IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu evaluated the formal state visit Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has made to Germany on 27-29 September and expressed that the recently built positive atmosphere between Turkey and Germany would reflect on the relationship between Turkey and the EU. Zeytinoğlu continued as follows:

“We welcome the conciliatory breeze blowing in the relations instead of the tensions experienced for the recent years between Turkey and Germany. By coming together with his counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Prime Minister Angela Merkel, President Erdoğan will discuss issues related to the economic and global agenda, which are crucial for both countries. The development of deep-rooted relations between Turkey and Germany is certainly extremely important for both sides. From an economic perspective, bilateral trade between Turkey and Germany reached 36.4 billion dollars in 2017. In the last 15 years, total amount of direct investments from Germany to Turkey is 9.15 billion dollars. When we take the first seven months of this year in consideration, we can see that our foreign trade volume has exceeded 22 billion dollars and that Germany maintains its position as Turkey’s most important trading partner with its share of 9.4 percent in our total foreign trade. Along with the economic dimension of Turkey-Germany relations, the importance of political and cultural ties and population of people of Turkish origin living in Germany are undeniable.”

IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu drew attention to visit which took place on the right timing with busy agenda and is crucial in terms of the improvement of Turkey-Germany relations. He continued his evaluation as follows:

“Today, we face a global agenda which draws Turkey and Germany together more than before. Syria issue, the US sanctions on Iran, migration, fight against terrorism and the escalating trade wars oblige Turkey and Germany to act together. A passage from President Erdoğan’s article published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on the eve of his arrival in Germany that says “The dramatic developments in the world make it indispensable for both Germany and Turkey to open a new page in bilateral relations, to leave aside their differences and to focus on their common interests” summarises this situation clearly. In terms of Turkey-EU relations, I think re-establishing bilateral relations with the Netherlands and Germany in the last period will reflect on the EU process of our country positively. Next step should be to launch of negotiations for the modernisation of the Customs Union which creates a win-win scenario for both Turkey and Germany. As you know, with the modernisation of the Customs Union, we aim to overcome our current problems and to strengthen our economic and commercial ties with an expanding and deepening integration into new areas such as agriculture, services, public procurement and investments. In addition, concrete success will be achieved if necessary steps are taken in the visa liberalisation process. As a matter of fact, the decisions taken at the last Reform Action Group meeting are concrete indications that our country continues to focus on this issue. We must remember the important steps taken in 2004-2005 and the EU reforms have been effective in improving the investment environment. The creation of this positive investment environment is in our hands. The other one is for Turkey to continue full membership objective to the EU as main priority as also expressed by our president and foreign minister. In that case Turkey should actualise the decisions taken during Reform Action Group meeting and take its first step to demonstrate its determination.”

By recalling the Turkey-EU deal as an output of Turkey and Germany’s common mind and collective effort, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu emphasised once again the importance of acting in unison in terms of the future of our region and the EU.