Mualla Cirakli

Mualla Cirakli currently works in the fields of foreign policy, democratization and human rights at the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments of the European Commission where she manages the EU’s election observation missions in fragile countries around the world. Until 2012, Mualla served as the Head of the Brussels Office of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, which she set up in 2005. Liaising with EU institutions, NGOs and the public on national and European level, she voiced the values, interests and concerns of Turkish Cypriot people and the business community; with a view to further integrate them to the EU. In recognition of her achievements in this position, she was awarded the 2010 European Public Affairs Award as Rising Star of the Year. Prior to joining the Chamber, Mualla worked at the Turkish Cypriot President’s Office as the Undersecretary’s Political Officer, closely dealing with the UN negotiations for the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. She also worked as a Trainer and Facilitator for the Cyprus Intercultural Training Initiative project funded by the UNDP to foster peace building, cooperation and trust between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Mualla has a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with focus on Political Science and French from Hanover College, USA and an Advanced Master of Arts in European Studies from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. She speaks English, Turkish and French and has an intermediate knowledge of Spanish and Dutch.