TOBB President Visa Call to EU

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), said: “The (EU) visa problem has reached serious dimensions for the business world recently, and transport quotas have negatively affected the bilateral trade. For this reason, we need to find an urgent solution to the visa and transportation quota issues.”

The Opening Meeting of the European Union (EU) Centers Network Project was held with the theme “Skills for the Digital Age as part of the European Year of Skills”.

The head of the EU delegation in Turkey, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu, representatives of chambers and commodity exchanges attended the meeting held at a hotel in Izmir.

‘PARTICIPATION PROCESS STOPPED IN LAST YEARS’

Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, in his speech here, said that the European Union Centers Network Project plays an important role in cooperation with Turkey and in communication with the world of economy.

Noting that the project will provide mutual benefits within the scope of the Customs Union, Meyer-Landrut said: “The chambers that ensure correct and on-the-spot information exchange throughout the country about the European Union based on unity with societies and the business world occupy an important place in the studies carried out. As the EU Delegation in Turkey, we always offer them our support and hope that this cooperation will be beneficial in the years to come.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu also pointed out that the project has been carried out since 1996.

Stating that the project is carried out very compatible with the process of developing relations between Turkey and the EU, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the studies are also extremely important for the process of modernization and enrichment of Turkey.

Stating that, like TOBB, they always regard relations with the EU as a priority, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “The Customs Union has been the most important tool for the transformation of Turkey’s production capacity. The accession negotiations have deepened and broadened Turkey’s transformation process. In recent years, the accession process has stalled. As the Turkish business world, we are not happy with this situation. “Given the current problems facing our countries, the need to revive relations is obvious,” he said.

THE PROPORTION OF EU COMPANIES INTERESTED IN TURKEY INCREASED

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that Turkey and the EU should work closer due to the epidemic process of Kovid-19 and the conditions created by the Russia-Ukraine War.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that strategically important issues such as food, especially energy security, should be included in the joint working area of ​​Turkey and the EU:

“The new generations must reach the job market with equipment suitable for the needs of the economy of the future. In short, education adds value to our human capital.

It helps to increase the competitiveness of our business world. Also, the modernization of the Customs Union will make important contributions to the Turkish and EU business world.

The issue of (EU) visas has recently reached serious dimensions for the business world, and transport quotas have also negatively affected bilateral trade. That is why we need to find an urgent solution to the problems of visas and transportation quotas.

The share of EU companies wanting to be informed about Turkey, including the Customs Union, has increased compared to 2013. Companies support updating the Customs Union.

Businesses in the European Union also support cooperation between the EU and Turkey in the Green Deal and the digital single market. There is a very favorable environment for promoting economic relations between Turkey and the EU.”

Stating that views in field studies are also reflected in bilateral trade relations, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the volume of bilateral trade has increased 4-fold in the last quarter century, and that the trade in goods between Turkey and the EU It has reached 196 billion dollars as of 2022.

The meeting continued with a panel titled “Digital Age Skills” held behind closed doors. (AA)