10.01.2017 Londra / Birleşik Krallık
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the “Turkey-EU Civil Society Meetings: The Future of Europe” meeting organized by the European Union Ministry in London.
Chairing the meeting attended
mainly representatives from business circles from Turkey and the UK, TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that this event had already been held in
Brussels and Berlin and that the Ministry of the EU puts great importance on dialogue
with business and non-governmental organizations, thanking EU Minister and
Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik and his colleagues for their visions.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
explained that TOBB is the umbrella organization of the business community in
Turkey, “We have 1.5 million members. Businesses from every sector and every
scale are in our network. I am also vice president for EUROCHAMBRES. I am a
member of the Board of Directors of the International Chamber of Commerce.
During the G20 presidency of Turkey in 2015, I also carried out the office of
B20 Turkey Chair.”
As TOBB,
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they have a long partnership with the British
Chamber of Commerce dating back to 2001, “We have developed our Chamber Accreditation
System working together with the UK Chamber of Commerce to bring service
quality to the top. Here today are leaders of confederations of business
people, tradesmen, workers and civil servants from Turkey. We, businesspeople,
tradesmen, trade union confederations and non-governmental organizations of
Turkey, come together in bilateral and European platforms with our counterparts.
At the global level, we come together at B20 and L20. At the European level, we
work together with European Employers and Employers in EUROCHAMBRES, BusinessEurope,
UEAPME and ETUC.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that in addition to Brussels and Berlin, the EU Ministry's inclusion of London
as a venue for this meeting, which is highly relevant in European Union issues,
is quite appropriate.
- The United Kingdom is a key country for the European continent
and European integration
Noting that the
United Kingdom is the world's fifth largest economy, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I
mean, in terms of economy, a world giant. Especially after the 2008 global
crisis, we have seen better the capacity of the UK economy. Politically, the UK
is among the key countries for European integration and European integration.
In the recent years of global problems, this reality is felt more and more by
everyone.”
Emphasizing that the
economic aspect of bilateral relations between Turkey and the United Kingdom is
extremely strong, the TOBB President said, “We have a wide range of investment
and trade relations. With a trade volume of nearly 16 billion USD, the UK is
one of Turkey's largest trading partners in the EU. Likewise, with a volume of
approximately 8.5 billion USD, the UK is again one of our most important
investment partners. There are about 2,800 UK companies operating in Turkey.
Among foreign companies operating in Turkey, this number is among the top three
countries. There are also serious Turkish investments in the UK. In particular,
we are seeing a significant increase in our investments in the United Kingdom
with United Biscuits, purchased by Yıldız Holding.”
- European Parliament's decision to suspend negotiations
Hisarcıklıoğlu
emphasized that as workers, employers, tradesmen and farmers in Turkey, they put
great importance on dialogue with their counterparts in Europe, and they are baffled
by the proposal to suspend dialogue and negotiations.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they regarded the European Parliament’s decision to suspend Turkey-EU
negotiations with regret, saying, “We are complaining about the EU. The UK is
still an EU member - one of the most important members of the EU. Turkey-EU
Relations have a long history. In our relations, the governments of the United
Kingdom have always made constructive contributions. In this historical
process, there are some milestones for relations. The most important of these
is undoubtedly the initiation of the accession negotiations in 2005. In the
meantime, Turkey's accession process to the EU was unfortunately not
successful. In fact, Turkey's EU membership project is an appropriate project.
It is appropriate for Turkey and it is appropriate for the EU. It's the right
project for the European Continent. There is serious vision and foresight in
the background. For that reason, this project should be successful. None of us
are perfect. However, we all have the contribution that we will provide for our
future, for the future of this continent.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
emphasized that values such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy,
equality, rule of law and respect for minority rights and market economy are
common values of all and that, European integration is a very important
anchoring task in the spread of these values in all the countries in the continent.
Noting that, as
Turkey's employers, tradesmen, civil servants, workers and non-governmental
organizations, they want a future where peace and prosperity will continue in
the European continent, the TOBB President asserted that the United Kingdom
will always be one of the most important actors in ensuring this future. He
emphasized that it was necessary to prepare for this future.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they are curious about the effects of the BREXIT process and the future of
the EU, its effect on the European Continent, and that for the most part, the
outcome will have to be experienced to fully appreciate its effects.
- “As the business community, we see the EU as an ally in
the fight against fundamental problems”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they have studied successful examples of the integration of refugees and
immigrants in relation to refugee-immigrants who are among the main problems of
the EU. “Turkey has spent about 25 billion USD on Syrian refugees since 2011.
In addition to meeting the human needs of refugees, we are also trying to
integrate them into the economy. We are talking about the fact that what
appears to be a crisis today can, in essence, be a success story if it is well
managed. For example, there are stories of economic integration in Europe and
very successful immigrants in the United States. However, there are policies
based on international cooperation and inclusiveness, not nationalist policies
and exclusivity.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
for Turkey and the EU, energy security, balance of freedom and security and the
fight against international terrorism, are issues on a regional and global
level which require joint solutions.
- Participants express their views
Participants
expressed their views on the following issues: “How do you assess the future of
the EU in the context of multiple crises, such as the attendees at the meeting,
the European Union's recent crisis, economic crisis, refugee crisis, energy
security, freedom-security balance?” “Does Turkey's membership give the EU an
edge over these crises? What kind of contribution do they provide if they
contribute?” “As a business community, how can we contribute? What are your
suggestions in this regard?” “How do you evaluate the future of economic
relations between Turkey and the United Kingdom?”