The seminar titled “The Private Sector’s Perspective on the Modernisation of the Customs Union”, organised in cooperation between IKV and Marmara University, was held on 15 May 2026. The seminar was moderated by IKV Chairperson Dr. Ayhan Zeytinoğlu and featured Belgin Holding General Coordinator Bülent Araslı and Ford Otomotiv Sanayi A.Ş. Public Affairs Coordinator Sinan Ayhan as speakers.

In his opening remarks, IKV Chairperson Dr. Ayhan Zeytinoğlu described the Customs Union between Türkiye and the EU as an agreement that goes beyond free trade agreements and constitutes an important part of integration. Stating that the EU’s new FTAs could reshape the future, Dr. Zeytinoğlu noted that the FTA signed with Mercosur could negatively affect the agricultural sector. Addressing the main challenges in Türkiye–EU relations, he emphasised that Türkiye’s absence from the negotiation table while the EU concludes FTAs with third parties creates unfair disadvantages.

Dr. Zeytinoğlu also likened visa-related problems to non-tariff barriers and stressed the importance of Türkiye fulfilling the remaining six out of the 72 visa liberalisation criteria. Furthermore, he highlighted transport as another important component of Türkiye–EU relations, arguing that the use of maritime and railway transportation instead of road transport would be more efficient for trade.

Belgin Holding General Coordinator Bülent Araslı began his remarks by underlining that Türkiye’s exports to the EU have increased following the establishment of the Customs Union. Noting that Türkiye runs a trade deficit with the EU, Araslı stressed the urgent need to modernise the Customs Union. He pointed out that reforms are needed in transportation and legislation and argued that the EU’s FTAs with third parties create unfair competition. Emphasising the importance of strengthening relations given the EU’s significant share in global exports, Araslı added that including agriculture, services and public procurement within the scope of the Customs Union would be beneficial.

The final speaker of the seminar, Ford Otomotiv Sanayi A.Ş. Public Affairs Coordinator Sinan Ayhan, stated that the Customs Union has significantly contributed to Türkiye’s export capacity, particularly benefiting the automotive industry. However, he argued that the Customs Union no longer meets current conditions and therefore requires modernisation. Ayhan noted that this need became particularly evident during the negotiations on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the EU and the United States. Ayhan continued by addressing the EU’s Industrial Acceleration Act and the “Made in Europe” process, warning that vehicles produced in Türkiye could be excluded from public procurement processes within the EU if they fall outside the “Made in Europe” definition. Ayhan also cautioned that subsidies granted to vehicles produced in the EU could undermine Türkiye’s position in the EU market. Highlighting that Türkiye also imports a significant amount of automotive products from the EU, he concluded by stressing that the Industrial Acceleration Act and the “Made in Europe” framework could also negatively affect the EU itself.

The seminar concluded with a question and answer session.