By: Jason Naum, RWI Regional Director for Europe and MENA
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI), together with the Embassy of Sweden in Ankara and the Directorate for EU Affairs at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially launched a new pilot initiative this week in Ankara, Türkiye. The pilot programme, “The European Green Deal and EU–Türkiye Trade: Corporate Sustainability Regulations and Human Rights Impacts in Türkiye 2025–2026”, is supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented in local partnership with the Business and Human Rights Association Türkiye (BHRTR).
With the honourable presence of His Excellency Bulent Ozcan, Director General for the Directorate for EU Affairs at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event brought together 25 government officials across seven Turkish government ministries, as well as representatives from the EU Delegation, the private sector, and members of the broader Team Sweden network.
Mr. Ozcan commended the initiative as “the beginning of a collaboration that will help public institutions and private sector companies in Türkiye approach the European Green Deal from a broader perspective.”
Building on Three Decades of Partnership in Türkiye
In his welcoming remarks at the pilot launch in Ankara, Peter Lundberg highlighted the RWI’s long-standing presence in Türkiye:
“RWI has been present in Türkiye since 1997. Over the last three decades, we have built enduring partnerships with universities, bar associations, civil society organisations, and public institutions. These relationships reflect confidence in our ability to convene actors, engage constructively, and bring evidence-based perspectives to complex policy challenges.”
Based on this strong partnership, the pilot aims to strengthen regulatory readiness and integrate human rights considerations into sustainability efforts connected to the European Green Deal and Türkiye’s Green Reconciliation Action Plan.
Looking ahead to 2026
The pilot initiative represents the foundation for a longer-term cooperation between RWI and Türkiye, with plans to expand peer-to-peer exchanges, deepen learning opportunities, and engage partners in future activities, based on RWI’s global experience.
RWI also plans to adapt lessons from Türkiye to other regions where the Institute is active — including Southeast Asia, Africa, and the MENA region. By building on the Türkiye experience, we aim to shape a new scalable ‘Ankara model’ for innovative, rights-based business and sustainability work.
