10.04.2014 Belgium
The findings from a survey conducted by the EU – Turkey Chamber Forum (ETCF-2) on 3700 companies in Turkey and on 1700 companies in the EU were announced during a meeting attended by the EUROCHAMBRES Vice President and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Minister Çavuşoğlu. In his speech, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that expansion is not a detriment to the EU but, quite the opposite, great economic opportunity and expressed his hope that expansion proponents will strengthen during the European Parliament elections held next month.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that if the EU and Turkish companies cooperate,
they could be much more successful in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and
other markets.
M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated the need for revision of the Customs
Union in order to address the adverse impacts of the FTAs signed by the EU on
the Turkish economy and as well as the need for a solution to the visa problems
for the Turkish business community.
European Union (EU) Minister and Chief Negotiator Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
stated that the EU is reticent in opening energy chapters with Turkey despite
its efforts to reduce its energy dependence on Russia as a result of the
Ukraine crisis.
Çavuşoğlu emphasized the determination of the government for reforms and
expressed their expectation for the EU to open new chapters for negotiation.
EUROCHAMBRES Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini stated that the Turkey-EU
relations are founded on strong and deep economic integration, stressing the
need for the modernization of the Customs Union.
According to the EU-Turkey Chamber Union’s survey, 75% of Turkish
establishments support EU membership, 51% expect membership within 10 years.
28% of Turkish companies do not expect membership to occur at all.
European companies are more optimistic in regards to Turkey’s
membership. According to the survey only 8% of European companies do not expect
Turkey’s membership to occur at all while 55% expect it within 10 years.
These surveys were conducted as a part of the European Union - Turkey
Chamber Forum (ETCF-II) Project’s second phase. The project has been running
for 3 years conducted by the ETCF, TOBB and EUROCHAMBRES.