Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Taking part in the delegation in addition to TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu  were TESK President Bendevi Palandöken, , TZOB President Şemsi Bayraktar, Türk-İş Genel President Ergün Atalay, Hak-İş Genel President Mahmut Arslan, Memur-Sen Genel President Ahmet Gündoğdu, Kamu-Sen Genel President İsmail Koncuk and TİSK Yönetim Kurulu President Tuğrul Kudatgobilik.

Speaking at the reception, TBMM Speaker Cemil Çiçek stated that 50 years have gone by in regards to Turkey – EU relations, “Turkey wants to be a full EU member as well as improving relations in all fields. That is why the EU is a state policy for Turkey.

We have some problems in regards to the EU membership stemming from sources other than us. There is a situation arising from the cross-eyed view of Turkey of some of the prominent countries. We do have of course have shortcomings ourselves. We are aware of them. We are working to resolve these issues but it is a fact that many countries which were far behind us in fulfilling the necessary conditions were summarily granted membership.

However, Turkey should not turn away from its goal. EU has been supportive of the enactment of many reforms.

The National Assembly also puts great importance on this matter. We have the Compliance Commission, inter-parliamentary joint commissions and even a ministry to address the issue of membership. This shows how determined and insistent Turkey is in this matter. Whatever happens, Turkey is enacting these reforms firstly for the sake of its own people. Full membership is to the benefit of Turkey and the European Union.”

Touching on the matter of visas, Çiçek pointed out that many countries which are not even members of the Customs Union are exempt from visas and stated that, hopefully, this issue will be resolved.

Çiçek stressed the importance of the efforts of the professional and non-governmental organizations to this end and presented his thanks to the delegation.

- EU is essential

TESK President Bendevi Palandöken, talking about the efforts of the committee, said, “EU is essential.

Stating that they will be conducting important meetings in the coming days in regards to the EU process, Palandöken said, “The fact that we will be able to travel without visas is hopeful.”

Palandöken stated that the EU process has proven to enable developments in the democracy aspect.