37th Turkey-EU Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting was held on 20-21 February 2018 in Adana with the participation of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik. In the opening session of the meeting, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik, President of The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Turkey-EU JCC Co-Chair Annie Van Wezel and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Gabriel Munuera Vinals delivered speeches. During the two-day meeting, Turkey-EU relations, refugee crisis, economic developments, employment in Turkey and social issues were discussed with the participation of experts and other stakeholders.

IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu shared IKV’s opinions concerning the current stance of Turkey-EU relations during the 37th JCC meeting. After having declared that Turkish citizens paid 317 million euro for Schengen visa applications in the last seven years, Zeytinoğlu underlined the burden of the visa as a physical, financial and psychological barrier. Furthermore, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu emphasised that Turkey-EU Customs Union which has been in force since 1996, accounts for 20% of the economy. Additively, he enunciated that the structural problems of the Customs Union should be solved but also services and public procurement should be included in it which currently covers only industrial goods and processed agricultural products.

IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu declared Turkish business world’s anticipation regarding the official launch of the Customs Union modernisation negotiations in 2018. Zeytinoğlu remarked that in this way the bilateral relations might be revitalised and Turkey’s compliance with the EU acquis would be enhanced.

Moreover, he continued his words by mentioning the “win-win” situation that modernisation of the Customs Union is likely to create for both Turkey and the EU and elaborated the modernisation as an important leverage for Turkey to surpass the middle income trap. Lastly, Chairman Zeytinoğlu highlighted that although acceleration in some areas such as the Customs Union, visa liberalisation and refugee cooperation is critical; these developments could not substitute Turkey’s EU membership goal. He called for proper conditions regarding the opening of new accession negotiation chapters.