(Turkish) “KOBİ’ler İçin Gümrük Birliği Projesi” Kapanış Toplantısı Gerçekleştirildi!

At the closing ceremony of the “Customs Union for SMEs” Project which is initiated by TÜRKONFED for SMEs to benefit from and to take active role on the ongoing modernization process between EU-Turkey, country reports were presented. The map of a possible modernization for Customs Union has been presented with a 10-step action plan. At the meeting where country reports were discussed, it was declared that “All global factors affecting current economic and trade relations require a comprehensive economic integration reflecting world’s facts, rather than a technical modernization of Customs Union between Turkey and the EU. Especially digitalization, climate policies and sustainable development should be key dynamics of modernization of Turkey- EU Customs Union.”

The closing ceremony of “Customs Union for SMEs” Project initiated by TÜRKONFED, was held in Istanbul, January 16th, 2020. At the meeting where country reports were discussed, it was declared that “All global factors affecting current economic and trade relations require a comprehensive economic integration reflecting world’s facts, rather than a technical modernization of Customs Union between Turkey and EU. Especially digitalization, climate policies and sustainable development should be key dynamics of modernization of Turkey- EU Customs Union.”

Within the scope of the project aiming SMEs to benefit and to take an active role during the process, a plan of action focusing on 10 topics to increase the competitive power of SMEs was stated:

SME chapter, Efficient Arbitration Mechanisms, Continuous Trade and Investment Monitoring, Implementation of the Customs Union, Inclusion of the Service Sector and Broadening the Scope of the Agriculture Sector, Foreign Direct Investment, Visa Liberalization, Inclusion of Public Procurement, One Stop Shops for SMEs, Climate- digitalization and sustainable development.

Ali Avcı: “We aim SMEs to benefit from the modernization of Customs Union at a maximum level.”

Delivering his opening speech, the Vice Chairman of TÜRKONFED Ali Avcı stated that as TÜRKONFED, they aim to strength collaboration and communication of public, business world and nongovernmental organizations and to help SMEs at worldwide level to benefit from the process at a maximum level in order to achieve modernization of the Customs Union. “In line with these goals, we formed a project team and an office with our Slovak partner Business Alliance of Slovakia; and we carried out research, sectoral analysis and study visits in Istanbul, Brussels and Bratislava” he continued. “One of the greatest outputs of these studies is the report we launch today, named Within the Customs Union Competitiveness of SMEs in Turkey and EU Countries. In this report, we present the current atmosphere, possible modernization, SME-based and sectoral analysis. As a result of these studies, I would like to highlight these topics for a possible modernization process: In accordance with “Think Small First” principle, a new perspective meeting SMEs’ needs by creation of an SME chapter and the creation of finance instruments to prevent obstacles arising from modernization, making of sectoral effect analysis in the face of modernization, achievement of active participation from both sides, establishment of problem solving mechanisms responding to potential problems and paving the way for active practices, inclusion of services and agriculture sector to the Customs Union and solutions for visa problems are issue of importance to us.”

Bahadır Kaleağası: “We should demand for a modernization including digital transformation, climate issues and social policies.”

Delivering his opening speech, TÜSİAD Secretary General Bahadır Kaleağası stressed out the importance of seeing future through Sustainable Development Goals: “In our efforts for modernization of the CU, the more we rely on Sustainable Development Goals, the stronger the solution we will find. At a time where we should reach Industry 5.0, we should demand for a modernization including digital transformation, climate issues, social policies and alignment with EU policies. You realize how vital it is when you look at EU policies. It is beneficial also for the EU to align Turkey with Sustainable Development Goals.  In this context, there is smart cities, justice, democracy, gender mainstreaming, 5G, so on and so forth…”

Arzu Kütükçüoğlu: “Afterwards, business world will take place in modernization negotiations as an important actor.”

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate for EU Affairs Head of Department of Single Market and Trade Arzu Kütükçüoğlu stated during her speech that Customs Union is an important step for Turkey’s integration goal to the EU and continued: “As you all know, both in benefiting from Customs Union’s true potential and in expansion of bilateral trade through elevation of problems, Turkey and EU came to terms; and in April 2014 technical studies began. The preparation process which was under the coordination of Ministry of Trade with contribution of our Ministry and all other related institutions & organizations, was very busy. Currently, we are waiting for the EU Council to authorize the EU Commission to start the modernization negotiations. Therefore, the busy schedule during 2014-2017 period left its place to a stagnation. We believe this stagnation period should be taken as an opportunity for the business world to be more active, because the business world has an undeniable power on EU. Moreover, the business world will have an important role in the modernization negotiations. We believe the work initiated by TÜRKONFED has a vital attempt especially for SMEs to contribute and to benefit from the modernization process.”

Bartosz Przywara: “This project is a very good example of productive collaboration.”

Delegation of European Union to Turkey, Head of Section of Trade and other EU policies Bartosz Przywara stated: “Although there have been political ups and downs, EU-Turkey relations have been strong. The trade between the EU and Turkey has increased over 4 times within last 24 years and today Turkey is the 5th among exporters of EU, and 6th among importers of EU. 3 quarters of foreign investment in Turkey comes from the EU. We are currently waiting for the modernization of the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU. This modernization will be beneficial for both parties. These kind of projects like the “Customs Union for SMEs” project are well conducted and support the effects. We find this project as a very good example of collaboration.”

Bahar Güçlü: “Projects that underline the gains from modernization of Customs Union supports the process.”

Delivering her speech, the Turkish Ministry of Trade Deputy Director General at DG for International Agreements and European Union Bahar Güçlü stated: “Customs Union have not only provided enhancement of trade but also provided advantages in Turkey’s legal basis for economy and investment. The EU’s own policies and its deepening has gone far beyond the Customs Union.  The trade agreements signed with third countries have extremely deepened and the Customs Union fall behind of them. In accordance with these developments, we launched a process to catch up with today’s conditions and to overcome the deficiencies. Turkey is not a party of EU’s free trade agreements. Our export faces highway quotas.  We agreed on a process offering win-win relations, yet, since 2016 we cannot continue the necessary negotiations. Today, both parties agree upon the economic gains coming from the modernization. At this point, just as TÜRKONFED’s “Customs Union for SMEs” project, projects highlighting the gains coming from modernization are very important”.

Following the opening speeches, a panel titled “New Perspectives on the Modernization of the Customs Union” under the moderation of Çiğdem Nas, Secretary General of Economic Development Foundation (İKV) was held.  Turkey Country Report Author Pelin Yenigün Dilek, Slovak Country Report Author and BAS Brussels Representative Erik Szedely and EDAM Chairman Sinan Ülgen evaluated the report and presented their visions for the future of the process. The panel was followed by a discussion.

TÜRKONFED states their call for modernization of CU at all platforms

TÜRKONFED states their call for modernization of CU at all platforms and at negotiations with their EU partners. Lastly, at the report of European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) titled SMEs- Trade Development and Investment Environment. Opportunities between the EU and Turkey, TÜRKONFED expressed their opinion.  The attention-grabbing report in terms of its call for modernization of CU,  claims that an agreement meeting the 21st century’s requirements in line with democracy will strength Turkey’s economic management, will bring a desired economic convergence and will support Turkey’s integration with EU at a wider scale.

The report is available from the following link: http://cuforsmes.org/?page_id=308

Executive Summary is available from the following link: http://cuforsmes.org/?page_id=319

Customs Union for SMEs : International Seminar in Istanbul

Participants: Businesspeople, public sector representatives, experts, civil society representatives & Press

Project titled “Improvement of Customs Union for Fair Trade and Competitiveness of SMEs” of TURKONFED, supported by the European Union, aims to bring the update of the Customs Union agreement between Turkey and the EU to the agenda of both parties as well as present policy recommendations for SMEs to maximise their benefit from the updating process.Devamı

Study Visit Reports Completed

As part of the “Customs Union for SMEs” Project, study visits were paid both in Turkey and in Slovakia in order to determine the needs and expectations of SMEs and sectors from a modernized Customs Union Agreement. Our team came together with business people, companies and associations from a variety of sectors such as the chemical industry, logistics, machine manufacturing and agricultural sectors, and analyzed the output gathered from the interviews in the final project report. While visa practices, quotas and the negative effect of FTAs signed between the EU and third countries on Turkey were among the common problems and concerns raised, it was emphasized during the interviews that the 25-year-old Customs Union Agreement, which cannot meet current needs of the business world, should be updated.
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National Round Table Meeting in Slovakia

Business roundtable on trade relations between Slovakia, Turkey and the EU

Business roundtable on trade relations between Slovakia, Turkey and EU was organized on 8 October 2019 in Bratislava by Business Alliance of Slovakia (PAS) in cooperation with the Turkish business association TÜRKONFED with an intent to discuss the current benefits of the EU-Turkey Customs Union for Turkish and Slovak SMEs and the barriers and opportunities of mutual trade.Devamı

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Director for EU Affairs Faruk Kaymakçı‘s Visit to TÜRKONFED

11 September 2019 – Istanbul / Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Director for EU Affairs Faruk Kaymakçı, Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED) President Orhan Turan and Vice President Mehmet Gün came together and exchanged views on Turkey’s European Union membership process, modernization of the Customs Union, and visa liberalization.Devamı

The Round Table Meeting of Project

 

The Round Table Meeting of the “Customs Union for SMEs” Project, which is a Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TURKONFED) and Business Alliance of Slovakia (BAS) joint Project, was held on the 21st August 2019 in Grand Hyatt Istanbul Hotel. Devamı

The Follow-up Meeting

The Follow-up Meeting of “Customs Union for SMEs” Project, under the coordinatorship of TURKONFED and BAS, was held on 22 August 2019 at the TURKONFED Headquarter in Istanbul.  The Project partners evaluated the Inauguration Ceremony and discuss the second project meeting, study visits and roud table meeting organizaitions which will be held in Slovakia. After the discussion on technical details and presenting the Project website to the BAS Team, the meeting was finalized with a certificate ceremony.