Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

 

Yalçıntaş, in his speech, touched on the 4 main problems regarding the EU stating that the current standstill of the EU accession process and the image of European Union's having lost its partnership spirit and progress goals was disheartening.

Stating that there are issues concerning the free trade in import and export of industrial goods through the customs union of the EU, Yalçıntaş stated that the visas enforced on Turkish businessmen are likewise against the clauses of the agreement.

Secondly, regarding the transportation of imports and exports, the fact that these are subject to quotas enforced by the EU is a violation of the customs union regulations, Yalçıntaş identified the third problem as the freedom of third countries which have a trade agreement with the EU marketing their goods without paying customs taxes.

Stating that the new fiscal plan indicates no increase in aid to Turkey and no possibility of membership before 2020, Murat Yalçıntaş said that this was the cause for much disappointment and that the economic crisis could not be stated as the cause, where it is quite clearly a lack of political will.

In his speech, European Parliament Internal Market Committee President Malcolm Harbour touched on Turkey's accession process stated that the lack of political will is present on both sides. On the other hand, stated Harbour, there exists much potential for development in many economic fields, stating that they are eager to work with TOBB closely regarding the problems with the customs union and goods, the free travel of services and persons and provide solutions to these.

The work supper was attended by the TOBB Board Vice President Murat Yalçıntaş, Economic Development Association (İKV) President Haluk Kabaalioğlu, TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council President Aynur Bektaş, TOBB EU Accordance Commission President Osman Kocaman, TEPAV Director Güven Sak and the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection of the European Parliament President Malcolm Harbour and various members of the parliament committee.