​​​​​​On 16 December, 2020, Mr József Kóbor, member of the local assembly in the city of Pécs (Hungary), represented the European Alliance group at the 24th meeting of the CoR Working Group on Relations with Turkey.

In light of the recent deterioration in the EU-Turkey relations and the Covid-19 context, the Working Group provides a critical space for the local and regional authorities on both sides to continue constructive dialogue around the EU accession and other matters of mutual interest. 

Working Group members participated in two thematic debates: developments in the Turkish-EU relations, including review of the 2020 Enlargement Report on Turkey findings, and Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey and the EU. 

The LRAs from Turkey expressed their appreciation for the working group as a knowledge and partnership space that enables to find synergies between the LRAs in promoting democracy, fighting climate change and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, and education and cultural exchanges. 

In addition to the thematic debates, the WG approved the 2020-2025 Work-Programme that aims to promote a dialogue and a framework of consistent and sustainable cooperation between the EU and the Turkish local and regional authorities in the areas of EU accession, local democracy, good governance, rule of law and fundamental rights; environment protection, climate action and energy; local economic development; demographic and social issues; cross-border cooperation; and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).