23.01.2023 İstanbul
Speaking at the Closing Meeting of the Türkiye-EU Business Dialogue Project (TEBD), EUROCHAMBRES Vice President and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the activities within the scope of the project were paralleled between EUROCHAMBRES policy priorities and that significant contributions were made to the dialogue between Türkiye and the EU business world with the project.
The Closing Meeting of
the Türkiye-EU Business Dialogue Project (TEBD) was held in İstanbul with the
participation of EUROCHAMBRES Vice President and TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu, EUROCHAMBRES CEO Ben Butters and Head of the European Union
Delegation to Türkiye Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut.
In his speech, TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating that within the scope of the
project, Chambers and Commodity Exchanges from Turkish and EU member countries
were matched, and in this way, they made a significant contribution to the
development of the service capacity of the Turkish Chamber and Commodity
Exchange system, to the establishment of connections with their counterparts in
EU member states and to the establishment of a working environment together.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that many events were organized to inform the business world about the European
Union acquis and said, “We have included the issue of green transformation
among the project priorities. We worked with the sectors that will be most
affected under the green transformation agenda. We have also reported the
results of our work on this issue. At the same time, we conducted field studies
revealing views on Türkiye-EU economic relations. We have applied separate
surveys to the enterprises of EU member countries and the companies in our
country.In these studies, we
have once again determined the depth of Türkiye-EU economic integration. We
confirmed that the business world continues to support the development of
Türkiye-EU economic relations. With the participation of our Minister of Trade
and the European Commission Member responsible for Neighbourhood and
Enlargement, we held the Türkiye-EU High Level Business Dialogue meeting. In
short, thanks to the Project, we have once again demonstrated the willingness
of Türkiye-EU business circles to work together with tangible applications.”
- Effects of the war in Ukraine
TOBB President and
EUROCHAMBRES Vice President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that as the business
world, Türkiye and EU member states are dealing with similar problems, and that
the war in Ukraine has made life very difficult for everyone. Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that high inflation, energy supply and energy prices directly affect
societies and economies negatively, “In this process, we, as the Turkish
business world, think that it is very important that we are in solidarity with
the EU business world. As you know, Türkiye is a candidate country for EU
membership. The customs union between the EU and Türkiye forms the strong basis
of our bilateral trade. In the last quarter century, our mutual trade volume
has increased 4 times. As of 2022, Türkiye-EU trade in goods has reached $196
billion. The EU is Türkiye's largest export and import partner. Around a
quarter of our imports originate from the EU. Approximately 41% of Türkiye's
exports are made to the EU. Türkiye is the 6th largest trading
partner of the EU. The EU also ranks first in foreign investments in Türkiye.
As the business community, we can do much more. In this regard, we need the
support of our Government and the European Commission. To this end, I believe
that it is important to expand the scope of the customs union and improve its
functioning.Therefore,
negotiations on the modernization of the customs union should be started as
soon as possible.
Türkiye's green and
digital transformation will also contribute to the customs union negotiations
and the Türkiye-EU Economic Integration process. The difficulties experienced in obtaining
visas for business people adversely affect the rate of increase in our trade
volume. The problem needs to be solved urgently. On the other hand, in our
Türkiye-EU trade, road transport provides a serious logistical advantage for
fast goods delivery.
However, existing
transport quotas delay the delivery of imported and exported goods. They also
increase costs. We need to solve the problem of road transport quotas.”
- Other conversations
Ambassador Nikolaus
Meyer-Landrut, Head of the European Union Delegation to Türkiye, said, “The
last 4 years have been difficult. We have worked with Türkiye on the green
transformation. The pandemic has also shown us how important the EU single
market is. It has been very important for us that services and goods continue
to circulate. The EU single market is home to 24 million companies. It
represents 30 percent of world trade. The Single Market has made the EU a
global power. Türkiye is a part of the single market. Türkiye plays an
important role in the EU's value chain.
Our policies must also
be harmonized in order for the integration between the EU and Türkiye to
continue strongly. In areas such as green transformation. The private sector
must be guided by the new rules introduced by policymakers. We attach great
importance to the dialogue between the business community. The Turkish business
community is also very active in European business organizations.”
EUROCHAMBRES CEO Ben
Butters gave information about the Project in his speech. Butters said, “Trade
is important. Economy has begun to strain us all. When we say trade is
important, we need to do what it requires. As EUROCHAMBRES, we attach
importance to this. We are trying to get to know each other for trade with our
Turkish partners. We have complex global supply chains. These are ossified
systems which formed over the years. It is necessary to rearrange them. There
are also newly emerging concepts. These are concepts for moving supply systems
closer and simplifying the supply chain. What is important for us is to be in a
functional process with Türkiye. The EU is close with Türkiye. We will be able
to mutually develop our trade through dialogue projects related to Türkiye and
the EU business world. Studies were carried out regarding SMEs. We have
informed our members. Economic integration among business communities is very
important to us.We
tried to increase cooperation. We will continue to work in potential areas such
as green transformation and digital transformation.”
- What is TEBD?
The Türkiye-EU Business
Dialogue (TEBD) project, carried out in cooperation with the Union of European
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES) and the Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), provides opportunities to develop
business dialogue by supporting the Chambers of Commerce and Industry /
Commodity Exchanges from Türkiye and the EU with a series of activities and
conducting activities.
The TEBD project, which
promotes the integration of the European Union and Turkish business
communities, raises greater awareness of the opportunities, business
opportunities and challenges provided by Türkiye-EU relations and the
modernization of the Customs Union between Türkiye and the EU.
250 Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges participated in various programs within the scope of the
TEBD project. Grants were provided between 30 Turkish Chambers and Commodity
Exchanges and 28 Chambers from 12 EU member states for twinning projects.