The "Economy-Democracy Relationship - Social Inequality" meeting of the Marmara Group Foundation - EU and Human Rights Platform on sustainable development concluded with a call stating that "a developed democracy and economy, rule of law, improvement of quality of life, reduction of income inequality, gender and social inequalities, combating discrimination, and the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development must necessarily be included."

Following the views shared and discussions held at the meeting, we civil society representatives propose that the following outcomes be taken into account during the United Nations' negotiations on setting new millennium goals for sustainable development.

· Increasing social welfare, improving quality of life, eliminating inequalities and discrimination, good governance, rule of law, and a strong democracy and economy based on checks and balances must enter the agenda of societies. All these elements inevitably need to be added to the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of the post-2015 development agenda. On this basis, the essence of the development cooperation approach should be human-centeredness.

· We expect member states to provide clarification on how priorities will be set at national and international levels, how targets will be implemented, and how data and accountability will be monitored.

· We insist on transparency, stronger review, and accountability during the implementation process of the new millennium development goals.

· Furthermore, we believe in the necessity of establishing independent evaluation mechanisms at national and local levels to monitor developments at regional and international levels.

On Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at the WOW Hotel in Istanbul, the "Economy-Democracy Relationship-Social Inequality" roundtable meeting on sustainable development and the post-2015 development agenda was held under the moderation of Marmara Group Foundation - EU and Human Rights Platform Chair Müjgan Suver. Presentations were made by Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin (Vice Rector, Kemerburgaz University), Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Narlı (Faculty Member, Sociology Department, Bahçeşehir University), Elizabeth Fillipouli (Founder Chair, Global Thinkers - London), Numan Özcan (Director, ILO Turkey Office), Prof. Dr. Danica Purg (Slovenia), Prof. Dr. Guliazhati Tuerxun (Urumqi Law Faculty, People's Republic of China), and Han Feng (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, People's Republic of China). Opinions were shared by Gönül Karahanoğlu (Chair, Ka-Der), Halime Güner (Chair, Flying Broom Association), Mustafa Paçal (Trade Unionist), Attorney Nazan Moroğlu (Coordinator, Istanbul Women’s Organizations Union), Attorney Turan Hançerli (Vice Chair Responsible for Legal Affairs, Turkish Disabled Association), Sanem Oktar Öğüt (Board Member, Kagider), Kenan Akın (Babıali Magazine), Gülçin Güloğlu (Aegean Industrialists and Businessmen Association), Zeynep Sanıgök (Secretary General, Oy ve Ötesi), and views were also contributed by Prof. Dr. Sedefhan Oğuz (Academic), Lale Aytanç Nalbant (Businesswoman), Ebru Sanver (Businesswoman), Leyla Tavşanoğlu (Journalist), Cenk Saltık (Businessman), Ümran Kumcoğlu (Economist), Nezihe Timur (Sociologist), Sevinç Köklüçınar (Marmara Group Foundation), Şen Okray (Businesswoman), Maja Ivanova (Spouse of the President of Macedonia), Zerrin Abaz (Consul General of Macedonia in Istanbul), and Joelle Garriaud-Maylam (Member of the French Senate).