The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), with the cooperation of IKV and Italy’s Embassy in Turkey, held a working breakfast meeting to which ambassadors from EU Member States participated. The meeting was held on the 25^th November 2014 in Ankara. The opening speeches were made by TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan and Italy’s Ambassador in Ankara his Excellency Gianpaolo Scarante on behalf of the rotating presidency of the EU Council currently held by Italy.

In his opening speech, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed the importance of pursuing the reform program in its path towards EU membership. In that respect, he underlined the need for political will to be enhanced and that, in order for the process to go on smoothly, along with a clear leadership, it is also important that some politicians show greater guidance in this process. TOBB Chairman Hisarcıklıoğlu further underlined that, in order to start sooner the integration process between the EU and Ukraine, the perspective of completing the negotiations on the Chapter on energy with Turkey would help the EU to enhance its position.

Furthermore, in regard to Turkey’s accession process, TOBB Chairman Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed in his speech that “if the EU shows a real commitment along with a strong will, the motivation to pursue the reform process in Turkey shall be greater”. He also pointed out to the continuing discrepancies within the current way of functioning of the Customs Union. In this regard, he called upon the revision of the Customs Union by further widening its scope. Furthermore, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the importance for Turkey to take a role in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. In that respect, he explained that “a country such as Turkey which is engaged in a Customs Union with the EU should not be held outside of an agreement such as this one”.

In his opening speech, IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan pointed out that Turkey has already ensured a high degree of integration with the EU when taking into account the Customs Union, the ongoing accession negotiations process, Turkey’s participation to EU Programmes such as Erasmus Plus an Horizon 2020. He further underlined that Turkey’s alignment with the acquis communautaire has been achieved to a large extent.  IKV Chairman Vardan further explained that the EU continues to be an impulsive force in further achieving the objectives related to further democratisation, the rule of law and the establishment of a welfare society. He also stressed that issues such as Turkey’s EU accession, the problems arisen within the functioning of the Customs Union, the visa liberalisation, cooperation in the field of foreign and security policy, the control of illegal immigration, could be tackled under the framework of the EU. In his speech, IKV Chairman Vardan also spoke about the problems in the vicinity of Turkey, whether in the Ukraine or in Syria and ensured that Turkey is committed as the EU to further strengthen peace and stability in these regions.

In his opening speech, Italy’s Ambassador to Turkey his Excellency Gianpaolo Scarante, he stressed that the EU was undergoing an important phase of restructuration. In an allusion to the difficulties related to the accession process, he ensured that Italy would continue to support Turkey’s EU membership process. Furthermore, he underlined the importance to open new chapters in the negotiation process during Italy’s rotating presidency, such as those related to Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and Justice, Freedom and Security. His Excellency Scarante also added that progress made within the framework of the visa liberalisation dialogue would contribute in Turkey’s accession process towards the EU.

The meeting was concluded with the presentation from TEPAV Director Prof. Dr. Güven Sak and remarks from the ambassadors.