The Turkey-EU High Level Economic Dialogue Private Sector Working Dinner was held in Istanbul Hilton Hotel and hosted by TOBB President and EUROCHAMBRES Vice Chairman M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.

IKV Board of Directors Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, who attended the dinner, stressed that the importance of the economic dialogue mechanism and touched upon the necessity to revitalise Turkey’s EU accession talks. Furthermore, he added that the fact that a country that is 800,000 people strong is blocking the opening of six chapters is not a democratic practice. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu touched upon the critical importance to open the chapters regarding Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and Justice, Freedom and Security – which are blocked by the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus - for the reform process to be pursued in Turkey. He further explained as followed: “If the EU wants to find long lasting solutions to problems encountered in Turkey’s reform process, the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law and fundamental rights, it must lift the obstacles in front of these chapters”.

Along with TOBB President Rifat M. Hisarcıklıoğlu, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Economy Mustafa Elitaş, Minister of Customs and Trade Bülent Tüfenkci, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır, Head of EU Delegation in Turkey Hansjörg Haber, European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella, Deputy Director General of DG Research and Innovation Wolfgang Burtscher, Eurochambers CEO Arnaldo Abruzzini, Business Europe CEO Markus J. Beyrer, Business Europe International Relations Director Luisa Santos along representatives from the EU private sector, international financial institutions, civil society organisations, chambers of commerce and sectoral assemblies attended the event.

In his speech at the working dinner, TOBB President and Eurochambers Vice Chairman M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed the need for a real integration for EU accession. He added that the business world was a key element in the economic integration between the parties. Hisarcıklıoğlu also revealed some information on the history of relations with the EU and added the need for further dialogue and operating power.