In 2004, ESI opened an office in Istanbul and launched its first initiatives on Turkey's social and economic developments in the context of EU accession.
[2] The films cover the stories of people fighting for democratic values in ten countries (Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey).
[3] ESEC Chairman Thomas A. Bauer noted that the series "combined inspired directing with sound scientific research".
[5][6] At an event in March 2016, ESI Director Gerald Knaus emphasised that cooperation with Turkey was 'without alternative' in order to prevent an 'Orbánisation' of the EU.
Combined with repatriation agreements, the plan would stabilise irregular migration at a low level of around 100,000 people per year without disregarding the Geneva Refugee Convention.