KAYSERİ - TEPAV's second event in the series "European Union, Our Common Future" carried out in cooperation with The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and Secretariat General for European Union Affairs (ABGS), was held on 14 August 2009 in Kayseri with the support of The Kayseri Chamber of Industry.

In the scope of the event, a panel titled "Turkish Economy and Industrial Policy in the Turkey's EU Accession Process" was hosted by The Kayseri Chamber of Industry on August 14, 2009. Delivering a speech at the inauguration of the panel, State Minister and Chief Negotiator Bagis stated that EU Project in Turkey is no longer a project discussed by elites in five-star hotels and that the project has turned into Anatolia's project. Expressing that financial aid to be provided in pre-accession period is an important tool that prepares Turkey's economy and industry for the membership process, Bagis underlined the significance of the establishment of business development centers and the grants and aids provided for businesses.

At his speech, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarciklioglu emphasized that the European Union accession process requires taking joint action with civil society. He also expressed that reaching this target will be beneficial for Turkey both in economic terms and at  an individual level.

Following the inauguration speeches, Hurriyet Daily columnist and TR PLUS (Center for Turkey in Europe) President Zeynep Gogus delivered a speech entitled "The Current State and the Future of Turkey-European Union Relations" in the panel session. At her speech, Gogus made a positive assessment about the EU-centered orientation of Turkey's foreign policy and called the government for a history and work program about EU accession. At his speech titled "Turkey's Economy in European Union Accession Process", Dunya daily columnist Rustu Bozkurt stated that the EU accession issue must be evaluated in the perspective of improving competitiveness and ensuring sustainable development for Turkey and put emphasis on the shortfalls of Turkish industry and economy on the path toward the EU.

Also in the context of the "European Union, Our Common Future" event, 100 people from public institutions, non-governmental organizations and private sector representatives from Kayseri attended the training program on applying to European Union projects. This activity was held in The Kayseri Chamber of Industry on August 13, 2009. At the program inaugurated by Chamber President Mustafa Boydak and ABGS Vice Secretary General Burak Erdenir and leaded by ABGS Economic and Financial Affairs Department Expert Bulent Ozcan, participants were informed about "Turkey-EU Financial Cooperation" and were given applied training on "How to Develop and Prepare a Project". The purpose of the project was to secure the sustainability of the success of Kayseri province, which ranked the third within Turkey benefiting from EU grant programs with 112 projects and 15 million Euros of support between 2002 and 2009. At the end of the program, participants were awarded certificates by State Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis.

Within the scope of the "European Union, Our Common Future" program held in cooperation by TEPAV-ABGS and TOBB, briefing programs on the contributions of the EU accession process to Turkey and harmonization process will be organized in different provinces and with different themes.