03.06.2014 Ankara
Speaking at the Contributions of Chambers to the Turkey – EU Civil Society Dialogue, ETCF-II Closing Session, EUROCHAMBRES Vice President and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that he supports Turkey’s EU membership and said, “The expedition of Turkey – EU negotiations and the advances in technical issues should not be halted because of political decisions.”
Contributions of Chambers to the Turkey – EU Civil Society Dialogue,
ETCF-II Closing Session was held at the TOBB Union Center with the attendances
of EUROCHAMBRES Vice President and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu,
Central Finance and Tenders Department President Muhsin Altun, EU Turkey
Delegation President Stefano Manservisi and the EU Ministry Undersecretary
Proxy Ahmet Yücel.
EUROCHAMBRES Vice President and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that there was significant capacity problem in chambers and exchanges in
2001 when the first Chamber Development Program was started; that the EU
members’ chambers had difficulty finding chambers and exchanges finding
matches.
- 41 chamber and exchanges
matched with 34 EU chambers
Stating that 41 Turkish chambers and exchanges had matched with 34 EU
chambers, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Matching projects have spread everywhere in
Turkey. Batman and Şırnak with Gümülcine TSO; Diyarbakır TSO Prato Chamber in
Italy; Eskişehir Chamber of Industry and Kütahya TSO with Stuttgart Chamber in
Germany; Trabzon Commodity Exchange with Kaseres Chamber in Spain; Uzun Köprü Commodity
Exchange, Uzun Köprü TSO and Kavala TSO with Sibiu TSO in Romania.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that these matching projects support international trade,
innovation, clustering, agricultural subventions; cooperation in regards to
environmental and vocational training issues.
Stating that they support the EU membership process as the Turkish
business community, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the expedition of Turkey –
EU negotiations and the advances in technical issues should not be halted
because of political decisions.
- EU Ministry Undersecretary
Proxy Ahmet Yücel
EU Ministry Undersecretary Proxy Ahmet Yücel stated that EU negotiations
and the advances in technical issues should not be halted because of political
decisions.
Stating that along with Turkey’s membership, EU goal of peace would take
on a global property rather than just a regional initiative, Yücel pointed out
that the expansion of the Customs Union is to the benefit of both parties.
- EU Turkey Delegation President
Stefano Manservisi
European Union Turkey Delegation President Stefano Manservisi, stating
that the EU has overcome the crisis and that it is necessary to ensure that
recovery is sustainable.
Pointing out that R&D spending is not enough in Turkey’s public
spending, that progress in innovation is limited, Manservisi stated that both
reforms and structures need to be invested in.
- Central Finance and Tenders
Department President Muhsin Altun
Central Finance and Tenders Department President Muhsin Altun provided
information in regards to grant contracts. Drawing attention to the need to
raise awareness to EU funds, Altun reported that many companies are uninformed
in regards to these funds.