EU-Türkiye Cooperation Stories

Two talented women, actress Zeynep Yıldırım and business graduate Arife Palamut, met on the stage of Didim theatre thanks to the EU-funded WOMEN-UP Project.

The 8,500-year-old pearl of the Aegean, İzmir is a coastal city built on the gulf. From time to time, the sea level rises because of storm surges and the coastline is flooded. Sudden weather events cause flooding. The city is also under the threat of water scarcity and drought.

Fadime Ayca Ceylan, Emine Betül Koral and Aslıhan Çalık are three young women who fearlessly pursue their passion in the information technology (IT) world regardless of what pessimists told them.

“When I was a child, I imagined that I would later work with machines. I used to open the inside of devices at home and examine them. Sometimes, I would repair broken devices, and sometimes, I would break devices that were intact,” says Sude Toprak with a laugh.

"This project has transformed my life: from a housewife, I have become an artisan who travels abroad and received the distinction of 'Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture Artist'."

The name “Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı” for a variety of olive oil has been registered as the protected designation of origin (PDO) by the European Union (EU).

The European Union (EU) supported project “Cultural Wealth of Izmir - Sustaining Jewish Heritage” came to a close in January 2024. The Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, joined the closing conference . Carried out by the Jewish Community Foundation of Izmir in cooperation with the Our City Izmir Association, the project contributes to preserving and sustaining Jewish cultural heritage and strengthening the Izmir’s Jewish community.

After Milas in Muğla province, Edremit in Balıkesir province became the second district in Türkiye to have two products names registered as PDO by the EU: “Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini” for a table olive and previously "Edremit Zeytinyağı" for olive oil.

“Milas Yağlı Zeytini” olive has been awarded the protected designation of origin (PDO) status by the European Union (EU). Thus, Milas in Muğla province became the first district in Türkiye to have two products registered as geographical indications by the EU: “Milas Yağlı Zeytini” olive and previously "Milas Zeytinyağı" olive oil. The recognition by the EU will help to protect the name of "Milas Yağlı Zeytini", just as "Milas Zeytinyağı", and to promote the product and its unique characteristics linked to geographical area of production as well as traditional know-how.