15.10.2014 Brussels / Belgium
TOBB President and the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES) Vice President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu urged the European business community to remind the European society that the EU’s expansion policy was a success story.
Speaking at the EUROCHAMBRES and TOBB’s joint “How Can the Business
Community Contribute to EU’s Expansion?” conference held in Brussels,
Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the importance of the expansion policy for Europe
during its fragile recovery period following the economic crisis.
Stating that Europe can only find the answers to its present economic,
political and social problems through expansion, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out
that Jean-Claude Juncker’s, who will be taking over the EU Commission
Presidency, statement that there will be no new EU members in the next 5 years
should not be seen as an end to the expansion process.
Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the benefits of EU’s expansion to 13 new
members since 2004 are apparent and urged the European business community to
relay this to the European society.
Reminding that the expansion strategy announced by the EU Commission
last week emphasizes economic and competitive power, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that
they are prepared to turn expansion into a great success story.
EUROCHAMBRES Secretary General Arnado Abruzzini stated that strong
relations between the EU and candidate states could provide the solution to
Europe’s weak economic recovery and increasing unemployment.