The Future of European Union and Cyprus were discussed at Near East University
Date Added: 30 April 2018, 08:56
Last Updated Date:20 November 2020, 11:01

Near East University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences students of Departments of Political Sciences and International Relations hosted Dr. Erhan Erçin, Diplomacy and EU Consultant of Presidency of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and discussed issues, related to Enlargement of the European Union and the status of Cyprus during this process, at a round table meeting held on Near East University campus.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, the round table meeting was held at the helm of Head of Department of Political Sciences of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of Near East University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Köprülü, due to the ‘International Institutions and Organisations’ module taught at the department. During the meeting, Dr. Erhan Erçin provided a historical perspective to the organisation and stated that European Coal and Steel Community, which was established with the Paris Agreement signed in 1951 by Western Germany, France, Italy, Beligium, Luxembrg and Holland; and also European Economic Community which was founded in 1957 both acted as the stepping stones to the establishment of the European Union.

The issues of increased racism in Europe and the Future of the EU were discussed at the round table meeting…
Dr. Erçin stressed that in time the European Union became supra-national causing a union and expansion of the EU, shifting to same currency, joint agriculture and customs unions; therefore becoming a structure which hold 28 different countries who use joint policies. Furthermore, Dr. Erçin provided details regarding the 1993 Copenhagen European Summit where EU Membership criteria were defined and the progress reports of perspective members were prepared. While he shared his views on the expansion process of the European Union, he placed special emphasis on the conflicts caused by giving full EU Membership to Cyprus in 2004.


Students were provided details regarding the EU Foreign Policy, the Brexit Process and the situation created in Cyprus…
It was pointed out that the round-table meeting was held interactively where the students were given opportunities to ask questions and express views on the matters discussed. Students coming from different geographical and cultural backgrounds provided different perspectives and asked questions to Dr. Erçin on the EU Foreign Policy, Brexit Process of the United Kingdom and the situation created by accepting Cyprus as a member of the EU while the Cyprus issue has not been resolved.


Focusing and discussing local and regional issues enable the students to develop their skills on conflict resolution...
Head of Department of Political Sciences of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of Near East University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Köprülü thanked Diplomacy and EU Consultant of Presidency of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Dr. Erhan Erçin for coming to the Near East University and stated that with events such as this round table meeting, NEU students were provided opportunities to gain multiple perspectives on matters and develop better solutions to local and regional issues.