Friends of Turkey in the European Parliament

In March 2010, members from the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and ECR groups founded the “Friends of Turkey” group in the European Parliament. Seventy-seven MEPs joined and were active members during the 7th legislative term (2009-2014). Alojz Peterle (EPP) was elected as chairman of the group.

In September 2014, the group was successfully re-launched. Artis Pabriks (EPP) and Ismail Ertug (S&D) became the new co-chairs.

The main objective of the informal group is to closely monitor EU accession negotiations with Turkey from a critical but constructive approach. Friends of Turkey is conceived as a platform for discussion where MEPs can contribute to the improvement of EU-Turkey relations.

As a cross-party informal group, Friends of Turkey has successfully positioned itself at the core of the debate on EU-Turkey negotiations. The group organizes formal and informal meetings with European and Turkish officials and it has served as a platform for high-level discussions including all the different actors involved in EU-Turkey relations.

Laura Batalla Adam is the current Secretary General of the group.

Members
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) • Victor Boștinaru

• Nessa Childers

• Ole Christensen

• Véronique De Keyser

• Ismail Ertug

• Tanja Fajon

• Knut Fleckenstein

• Richard Howitt

• Liisa Jaakonsaari

• Jo Leinen

• Bogusław Liberadzki

• Claude Moraes

• Norbert Neuser

• Pavel Poc

• Jutta Steinruck

• Boris Zala

European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR)
 * Sajjad Karim
 * Geoffrey Van Orden
 * Jan Zahradil

Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
 * Sophie in 't Veld
 * Anneli Jäätteenmäki
 * Gesine Meißner
 * Alexandra Thein
 * Michael Theurer
 * Ivo Vajgl

Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA)
 * Jan Philipp Albrecht
 * Karima Delli
 * Heidi Hautala
 * Ska Keller
 * Indrek Tarand