IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu assessed the Turkey-EU High Level Economic Dialogue Process as followed: “The contribution of the Turkish business world and the civil society is extremely important for successfully carrying out accession negotiations and achieving the final goal of our country which is EU membership. There is high potential in terms of economic cooperation between the parties. The key is Turkey’s participation to the TTIP process and the revision of the Customs Union.

IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoglu delivered statements regarding the Turkey-EU High Level Economic Dialogue meeting which was held in Istanbul and Ankara on 25-26 April 2016.

IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu underlined that the key to the Turkey-EU High Level Economic Dialogue process is Turkey’s participation to the TTIP process and the revision of the Customs Union and added the following: “Following the beginning of the political dialogue and high level energy dialogue between Turkey and the EU, the first concrete step has been taken in establishing the third forum of dialogue with represents economic dialogue. The meeting is of tremendous importance as it brings together for the first time on the same table representatives from ministries from Turkey and the EU, Commissioners along with business representatives and is an opportunity to voice the current issues in bilateral relations and to find solutions in that respect.

Undoubtedly, the economic and commercial ties between Turkey and the EU are very strong. Nowadays, Turkey representing the 7^th largest economy in Europe has become the 6^th largest trade partner of the EU by raising its trade volume at 71.2 billion euros with the EU in the first 6 months of 2015. The EU where we are performing approximately 40 percent of our external trade is continuing to be Turkey’s largest trade partner with a total trade volume of 142.7 billion dollars in 2015. Approximately 70 percent of FDI coming to Turkey originates from the EU. As it has been pointed out numerous times within the framework of the Progress Reports, thanks to the establishment of the Customs Union, Turkey’s trade integration with the EU is at a high level. However, changing conditions, along with an increased global competition are directly affecting both the EU and Turkey. Therefore, as the only specialised institution of the Turkish business world regarding Turkey-EU relations, in a time when rules are being reshaped in the global arena, we believe that obstacles in front of trade and investment for both parties need to be lifted in order to strengthen economic and trade relations between the parties, for Turkey to successfully implement its structural reforms, to accelerate the revision of the Customs Union and to have Turkey participate in the TTIP process.

We, as IKV, would like to underline once more the following points which we brought to the attention at the occasion of the High Level Economic Dialogue:

- High-level dialogues between Turkey and EU must be complementing Turkey’s EU accession process; in other words, it should bring our country closer to its goal of EU membership.

- Next year, a new period is about to unfold in our bilateral relations as the Customs Union will be revised. In that process, comprehensive solutions should be brought to problems faced by our country in its free trade agreements and transportation quotas issues.

- There should not be any deviation from the agenda fixed towards the lifting of visas with the goal of having visas removed in June 2016.

- The fact that some chapters in Turkey’s EU accession process are blocked is in contradiction with a democratic approach and is impeding a sound development of the relations. 

- Turkey should absolutely be involved in the TTIP process.

- The next High Level Economic Dialogue meeting will be held in Brussels in 2017. Until this meeting, Turkey’s structural reform agenda and the reforms it foresees for 2016 should be implemented.