The Head of the Delegation of the EU to Turkey, Ambassador Christian Berger, visited Kayseri and Nevşehir on July 12-13, 2017.

In Kayseri, Ambassador Berger was warmly welcomed by Governor Süleyman Kamçı, Mayor Mustafa Çelik, and Chamber of Commerce Head Mahmut Hiçyılmaz. He visited the EU-funded Erciyes Technopark, one of the most successful EU pre-accession projects in Turkey, due to its support to the development of a technology-based industry in Turkey. Ambassador Berger met Murat Doğan, the Technopark's Chairman, and young engineers working for this initiative, and was pleased to learn of their plans for a follow-up project. Ambassador Berger also met with  Afghan refugees in Kayseri and their association, learning about ways in which this EU-funded civil society organization can assist its members in Turkey. He thereafter visited an EU-funded  reception and removal center in Kayseri that enables Turkey to host irregular migrants in appropriate conditions.

During the visit of Ambassador Christian Berger to Nevşehir, Governor İlhami Aktaş and Mayor Hasan Ünver received the EU delegation. Ambassador Berger attended the opening ceremony of the EU-funded Multi-Service Support Centre in Nevsehir for refugees and asylum-seekers. He visited two further EU-funded projects, the Nevşehir Wastewater treatment plant that aims to reduce the pollution of the Kızılırmak River in order to improve water quality, and a pottery workshop funded by the EU under the IPARD program with the aim of diversifying and developing rural occupations.