Economic and social councils of EU and Mediterranean countries to gather in Istanbul

ISTANBUL (A.A) - November 15, 2011 - Economic and social councils of the EU and Mediterranean countries will gather in Istanbul at a summit to be hosted by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). A statement by the TOBB said on Tuesday that "Euromed Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions" would take place in Istanbul between November 16 and 18. Representatives from economic and social councils of EU member states as well as Turkey, Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Albania, Monaco, Montenegro, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia will meet under the summit. Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz, EESC President Staffan Nilsson and TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu will make opening remarks of the summit. Stefan Fule, European Commissioner responsible for Enlargement and the European Neighbourhood Policy, will deliver a speech on the second day of the summit.