How Istanbul, Izmir, Gaziantep and business are integrating Turkey into the EU

A crowd of dynamic entrepreneurial types gathers in an Istanbul hotel. Outside, in the crowded streets, deals are being made, goods bought and sold, and a metropolitan economy larger than many entire EU member states is growing strongly.

Inside, the business people are learning how the EU works, focusing on practical details such as double taxation, fund-raising and visa liberalisation.

I’m at the “Young Businessmen on the EU Path” project opening ceremony in Istanbul, alongside distinguished colleagues from the Turkish side including Turkish Europe Minister Egemen Bağış.

The aim of the event is to help business people understand how the EU works. The Turkish private sector is large and powerful and keen to work with customers and other businesses within the European Union. Ensuring that they are as well-equipped as possible with the skills needed to thrive there is a win-win for everyone.

The event reminds me of the recent piece in the Guardian by Egeman Bağış. In it he argued that Turkey’s integration with the EU was constantly proceeding, driven by day-to-day contacts between people, businesses and cities – such as recent cultural, business and sustainability projects between Istanbul and Cologne, Barcelona and Copenhagen.

I’m a big fan of this argument: indeed, not only the dynamic mega-city of Istanbul but also people and businesses in smaller cities in which the UK-funded project will be holding meetings later this year such as Izmir and Gaziantep, are driving the integration process.

If that brings about new commercial opportunities between Turkey, the UK and other member states and creates wealth all round, so much the better.