Dear friends, colleagues, esteemed guests,

What a beautiful evening to gather here again — in this beautiful garden of the Erimtan Museum.

It’s not often that one night holds so many meanings. Tonight, we celebrate results of years of intense cooperation in one of the most important areas of our relations – managing the Syrian refugee crisis. 

Let me begin with the photo album and the exhibition that bring us together this evening:
 “One Life, One Story.”

The album and the exhibition are about people and their courage.

Each photo, each quote, each journey in these pages reminds us that behind every statistic lies a human being —
 a mother, a child, a craftsman, a student.
 Someone who fled war. Someone who rebuilt.
 Someone who now contributes to a new community — here, in Türkiye.

And that’s where the story truly begins.

Because for more than a decade, Türkiye and the European Union and Member States have worked hand in hand —to provide not just assistance, but dignity.

From basic needs to education, health, livelihoods, municipal support.

Let me share a few facts to give you the scale of what we have built together:

• Some 1.3 million Syrian refugees receive support for basic needs
• Approximately 836,000 refugee children have access to formal education
• 176 schools and 178 health centres have been constructed, along with two major hospital
• And for the host communities, over €500 million in EU support has been invested in Turkish municipalities — including Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Mersin, Mardin, Adıyaman, Malatya and Hatay — for water, sanitation, and urban services.

This is one of the largest such efforts in the EU’s history, where our financial commitment approaches 12 billion euros. And Türkiye has committed far more.

But even more importantly — it’s one of the clearest examples of what solidarity looks like in action.

Türkiye has hosted the largest refugee population in the world for years, and the EU’s efforts would not be possible without Türkiye’s leadership and hospitality.
We salute that generosity.
And we are proud to support it — today, tomorrow, and in the future.

Together, we are also committed to ensuring the conditions for voluntary, safe, and dignified returns to Syria— in full respect of international principles. 

Importantly, parts of this photo album and exhibition illustrate our solidarity after the devastating earthquakes of 2023. 

In those darkest hours, the EU and its Member States mobilised the largest humanitarian operation in our history.

We came with rescue teams, with supplies, field hospitals, and most of all — with solidarity.
The earthquakes tested us all — but they also reminded us of the power of standing together.

And we are still here, side by side.

Dear Guests,

Our work has been broad, yes — but it has also been deeply human.
This is why we have created “One Life, One Story” photo album — to put people back at the centre.

To make sure we hear their voices.

To visually complement those voices further, we also curated an exhibition — shown in Brussels earlier this year and now shared here in Ankara.
And for those who can’t join us tonight, all materials are also available online.

We also recently launched another visual tribute right here in this garden:
our Cultural Heritage Photo Album, which you can also find here tonight.

That collection reminds about the stories that begin with preservation, with memory, with the beauty of what endures.

So yes — two albums, two lenses, but one core message:
Shared values. Shared humanity. Shared future.

Now, speaking of stories — let me mention one that stands out tonight.

Selda Bilgin, who joins us here, is the Chairwoman of the Beri Women’s Cooperative in Ankara.
15 Syrian and Turkish women joined forces. Some had never worked before. Some had never imagined owning something of their own.
But today, they run a fully functioning cooperative.

Selda said something that stayed with me:

“Beri is a symbol of our rebirth. Women like me, who had only ever been housewives, are learning to stand on our own feet.”

This is what empowerment looks like.
And the fact that “Beri” means “rebirth” — I don’t think it could be more fitting.

Selda, you and your colleagues didn’t just build a business. You built a message.
And we are honoured to include your story in this album, which inspires us all.

Dear guests,

None of this would have been possible without the efforts of our Team Europe.

Many EU Member States contributed generously — not only through EU channels, but also bilaterally. We thank you sincerely.

And we are equally grateful to our UN partners — many of whom are here tonight:

• UN Resident Coordinator,
  IOM, FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO,
  UNOCHA, UN Women, WFP.

Thank you for walking this road with us — not just in words, but in actions.

Let me end with a simple reminder — drawn from the pages of our photo album:

Every life matters.

Every story deserves to be heard.

And when we act together — hope is never out of reach.

Allow me to use this opportunity to also pay tribute to the great colleagues who are working at the EU delegation and who make our efforts successful and result-oriented. Among the many gifted and dedicated colleagues , let me honour two of them tonight as they are about to leave Türkiye and deserve a very heartfelt thank you and farewell.

Let’s start with Stefano Fantaroni, Head of Political Section, my political director.

This is his second tour in Ankara — and it would be fair to say there is hardly a person to know better both Turkish domestic and foreign policy and the intricacies of the EU-TR relationship. You have bee a more than trusted advisor. I almost blindly followed your analysis and recommendations. You are a great leader, teamplyer and an excellent asset of this delegation.

Stefano is now heading to EEAS in Brussels to focus on security policy — still with a Türkiye dimension.

As the old saying goes, you can take a diplomat out of Türkiye, but you can't take Türkiye out of a diplomat!

Once Türkiye gets into your bloodstream, it stays. Especially when you’re married to an Istanbul-born partner, Meltem, who is here tonight with your beautiful children.

Stefano, your professionalism, energy and friendship left a deep mark on me. Your intellectual brilliance remains outstanding. You’ve been a source of common sense and European elegance with an Italian touch. 
You’ve blended diplomacy with warmth, and elegance with good humour.

On behalf of all of us, thank you for everything. Mille grazie y tanti auguri. We wish you nothing but success, happiness, and new adventures. Best of luck, onwards and upwards!

And now — Laurent Guirkinger, Head of our Human and Social Development Section in Cooperation.

Laurent’s career reads like the travel log of a deeply committed European public servant.

From Croatia to Cameroon, Peru to the Dominican Republic — and for the past three years, Türkiye.

Here, you have managed some of our most complex files — from education to health, employment to social policy — with calm, clarity, and a trademark coolness under pressure. You have successfully managed important parts of our financial cooperation in migration and border management. The launch of the book tonight talks also about the achievements of you and your team.

Laurent, you have been a great asset of this delegation. Some of us may never forgive you for making IPA II and III sound so easy.
Merci beaucoup — and best of luck on your next chapter.

Finally, a short word pro domo.

This is one of my last events as the EU Ambassador to Türkiye.

My family and I arrived in Türkiye only a little year ago. Unexpectedly and at short notice, I follow the call of my government to take up the function as German ambassador to the European Union in Brussels, at a time when huge external and internal challenges test our European resilience and demand more commitment, creativity and action.

My family and I leave with immense gratitude — and the deepest respect for the people and the place that welcomed us. I am full of gratitude towards my wife Anjellica and our children Anastasia and Serafin to do this journey together. Without your love and support it would be impossible for me to face the past and coming challenges.

It has been an incredible honour to serve as Mr Europe in this country, which is a candidate country to the European Union and a strategic partner. Türkiye is complex and dynamic, always rich with potential, rich with wonderful people living in a great nation.

I will carry with me not just professional experiences, but personal memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. We came with Türkiye in our mind and we leave with Türkiye in our heart.

To conclude with the words of the great poet Özdemir Asaf: “Sen bana bakma, ben senin baktığın yerde olurum – Don’t look at me, I will be where you are looking.”

To all of you — my team, our partners, our friends — thank you.
Thank you for making this journey meaningful.

Enjoy the evening.

European Union, 2025

European Union, 2025

European Union, 2025

European Union, 2025

European Union, 2025