The 40^th Meeting of the Turkey-EU Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) was held in İzmir on 22-23 November 2021. TOBB President and Co-Chair of the Turkey-EU JCC M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, IKV Chairman and TOBB Vice-President Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, Chairmen and representatives of HAK-İŞ Trade Union Confederation (HAK-İŞ), Confederation of Civil Servants’ Unions (MEMUR-SEN), Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen of Turkey (TESK), Confederation of Trade Unions of Turkey (TÜRK-İŞ), Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions of Turkey (Türkiye KAMU-SEN) and Chairmen of İzmir Chamber of Commerce, Aegean Region Chamber of Industry and the İzmir Commodity Exchange participated in the meeting. Conveying his views on Turkey-EU relations, the European Green Deal and the modernisation of the Customs Union at the JCC meeting, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu pointed out to the importance of strengthening Turkey-EU relations and the modernisation of Customs Union.

The opening speeches of the meeting were delivered by TOBB President and Turkey-EU JCC Co-Chair M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee and Turkey-EU JCC Co-Chair Peter Clever, Deputy Director General of European Neighbourhood Policies and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission Maciej Popowski, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the European Economic and Social Committee Dimitris Dimitriadis and Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı. TOBB President and Turkey-EU JCC Co-Chair Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the Turkish Wing of the JCC sees the relations between Turkey and the EU as a roadmap and a prescription for the transformation of Turkey’s economic, business, social and humanitarian life.

TOBB President and Turkey-EU JCC Co-Chair Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the Turkish Wing of the JCC has always been a strong supporter of Turkey's relations with the EU. Hisarcıklıoğlu explained that Turkey-EU relations needed closer dialogue more than ever. “‎Since 1995, the Turkey-EU JCC has managed to come together in good times and difficult times. ‎Today, we convene once again united to show our support for the dialogue between Turkey and the EU. The Customs Union has been the most important tool in the transformation of the Turkish economy. Accession negotiations have expanded this further. We have all felt the positive impact of the accession negotiations in many areas. We had an agenda that allowed us to think of a common future for both the EU and Turkey. Unfortunately, relations between Turkey and the EU have stagnated in recent years. On the other hand, we all know we need each other. It is not possible to continue the current situation as it is.”

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı stated the following in his speech: “The positive agenda is something that needs to be worked out. Full membership is an important perspective. We know that's not going to happen tomorrow. If Turkey is asked to proceed on a reformist path, and is expected to act within the Copenhagen criteria, halting the full accession process is a source of demotivation. Turkey is not actually moving away, it used to be, but Turkey is being pushed away due to the actions of some Member States. We definitely want Turkey to be evaluated from a membership perspective. But you know the Customs Union needs to be updated. In today's applications there are asymmetries and there are points that cause problems in terms of trade. But it is important to maintain the positive agenda between the EU and Turkey. It's important to have high-level meetings. Unfortunately, the suspension of our membership process for political reasons has been a demotivational practice for us.”

Member of the European Economic and Social Committee and Turkey-EU JCC Co-Chair Peter Clever said that despite all the difficulties faced by countries, they had to keep their communication channels open. Stressing the need to focus on two issues, Clever said: “‎The first is changes in joint disaster management. We must have the same equipment and training. And in doing so, we need permission. The other is making the economy green; it's a necessity for all of us. We are currently acting in the Paris Agreement, we are happy with it; there is so much we can do together.”

Meanwhile, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut expressed his pleasure to be in İzmir and wished the meeting would prove productive. Drawing attention to climate change and migration as serious problems faced by all countries, Ambassador Meyer-Landrut stated the following: “In terms of climate change, we welcomed Turkey's signing of the Paris Agreement. We're moving forward with this now. In that sense, I thank the authorities. Energy, transportation, environment, agriculture and education have been the basis of our financial agreements to date. Natural disaster issues are also an important topic, we often encounter various events in this regard. As for migration, I would like to underline once again that Turkey has been a great host since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. Currently, 3.7 million Syrian migrants have been received, according to official records. Various committees for migrants have been established in Turkey. 4.3 billion euros in aid has already been provided. It is clear how much work needs to be done in Afghanistan, it was very important for Turkey to stop irregular migration flows through Belarus.”

After the opening session, the JCC meeting continued with sessions on disaster management, green economy and modernisation of the Customs Union. A joint statement was adopted on the second day of the JCC meeting.