Turkey-Eu High Level Economic Dialogue Meeting Was Held in Istanbul
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IKV’s Trustee Organisations: 19 65 ISSUE: 47 FEBRUARY 2019 www.ikv.org.tr / contact: [email protected] TURKEY-EU HIGH LEVEL ECONOMIC DIALOGUE MEETING WAS HELD IN ISTANBUL The Turkey-EU High Level Economic Dialogue convened for its third meeting in Istanbul. n 28 February 2019, top in which Turkey and the EU have officials from Turkey and been working together closely. Vice Othe EU came together with President Katainen mentioned the leading representatives from the General Affairs Council’s assessment Turkish and European business alleging that the negotiations with community for the third meeting of Turkey were at a standstill. Katainen the Turkey-EU High Level Economic continued with the following Dialogue (HLED). HLED is among clarification that this situation did the various thematic dialogue not imply an end or a suspension mechanisms between Turkey and to Turkey’s accession talks. Referring the EU. The agreement to establish to Turkey’s status as a European a high level economic dialogue and an EU candidate country, Vice was reached during the Turkey- President Katainen said that in line EU Summit of 29 November 2015 with this approach they expected convening in the most acute phase a good performance from Turkey of the refugee crisis. The HLED concerning core EU values and mechanism aims at contributing principles. As to economic reforms, to the further enhancement of Katainen stated that the reforms economic relations and creating foreseen in Turkey’s New Economic a platform to bring the European Turkey-EU trade and investment EBRD and EIB were also present in the importance of the EU anchor and Program were both promising and and Turkish business communities relations and the Customs Union. the meeting. voiced their commitment to Turkey’s necessary. together with decision-makers. The As it is known, the economies During the meeting, objective of full EU membership. Visa first HLED meeting was held in 2016 of Turkey and the EU have become representatives of the Turkish liberalisation, digitalisation, trade and Largest Ever Turkey-EU Financial in Istanbul and Ankara and this was deeply integrated in consequence business community highlighted investment were among the issues Cooperation Project Signed followed by a second meeting in of the Customs Union which has the need to launch the talks discussed in this session. According to the joint press 2017 in Brussels. been in effect since 1996. EU aimed at the modernisation of Speaking at the joint press communiqué, in the Inter- HLED convened for its is Turkey’s top trading partner, the Turkey-EU Customs Union conference following the Turkey-EU Governmental Dialogue session, third meeting under the joint whereas Turkey ranks fifth among without further delay. The Turkish Business Dialogue, Treasury and Ministers and Commissioners chairmanship of Turkey’s the EU’s trading partners. The trade business community’s message Finance Minister Albayrak indicated discussed global and regional Treasury and Finance Minister volume between Turkey and the was echoed by EUROCHAMBRES that they had a transparent and economic developments and Berat Albayrak and European EU has reached 165 billion dollars and BusinessEurope representatives frank dialogue with their European evolution of the economic policy Commission Vice President in 2018. Moreover, EU accounted who called on the EU to launch the interlocutors. Minister Albayrak since their last meeting. “The two responsible for Jobs, Growth and for two thirds of foreign direct process for the modernisation of stated that the bilateral trade sides reiterated their commitment Investment Jyrki Katainen. The EU investment inflows to Turkey in the Customs Union. As it is known, volume between Turkey and EU has to maintaining an open and frank delegation consisted of European 2018 with the Netherlands, Italy and Ankara and Brussels had agreed on significantly increased in the last 15 dialogue, to addressing common Commissioner for Transport Violeta Austria being among the top five the need to modernise the Customs years reaching 165 billion dollars in challenges and to cooperating Bulc as well as representatives FDI sourcing countries. Union by addressing issues related 2018. Albayrak highlighted that in including in the essential areas from the European Commission’s to its current functioning and the face of rising protectionism and of economy and trade” the DG NEAR and DG Trade whereas Business Community’s Call for bringing it up to date with the new the threats against multilateralism, communiqué read. The fourth the Turkish delegation included the Launch of Customs Union generation trade agreements by Turkey-EU economic relations have HLED meeting is set to take place in Transport and Infrastructure Modernisation Talks extending its scope to sectors such become increasingly important. Brussels next year. Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan and The Turkey-EU Business as services, public procurement and Albayrak also pointed out the During the meeting, the Minister for Trade Ruhsar Pekcan. Dialogue session was attended by agriculture. In December 2016, the business community’s call regarding project financing agreement for The meeting was organised in two the presidents and representatives European Commission has asked the the modernisation of the Customs the Halkalı-Kapıkule High-Speed sessions: the Turkey-EU Business of leading Turkish business Council for a mandate to launch the Union, and emphasized that it was Railway Line was signed by Turkey’s Dialogue which brought together organisations such as TOBB, IKV, talks for modernising the Customs an issue of priority that should be Transport and Infrastructure Minister Turkish and European business TUSIAD, TIM, TISK, TESK, DEIK, Union. However, the issue has urgently addressed. Mehmet Cahit Turhan and European circles with European and Turkish MUSIAD, YASED and KAGIDER as well become highly politicised and the Commission Vice President Commissioner for Transport Violeta decision-makers; and the Inter- as European umbrella organisations Council, in its June 2018 conclusions Katainen, for his part highlighted Bulc. The total cost of the project is Governmental Dialogue session such as EUROCHAMBRES stated that no further work was the deep economic integration 1 billion euros, 275 million euros of during which Turkish and EU officials and BusinessEurope. Senior foreseen for the modernisation of between Turkey and the EU and which will be financed by the EU, discussed the current economic representatives from international the Customs Union. The Turkish went on describing the HLED as making it the largest EU investment situation, structural reform agenda, financial institutions such as the business community underscored just one of the numerous areas project carried out in Turkey. 1965 2019 19 65 1965 1 19652019 ISSUE: 47 – FEBRUARY 2019 9 65 2018 IKV AGENDA IKV CHAIRMAN ZEYTİNOĞLU ATTENDED THE HIGH LEVEL ECONOMIC DIALOGUE MEETING he High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED), impasse in the modernisation of the Turkey-EU Testablished between Turkey and the EU in Customs Union because of political reasons. 2015, brought Turkish and European business Furthermore, Turkey’s objective to complete circles together with the decision-makers the visa liberalisation dialogue and revitalise for the third time on 28 February 2019 at the the accession process was reiterated. Presidential Office in Dolmabahçe Palace, During the meeting, IKV Chairman Ayhan Istanbul. The event was hosted by Finance and Zeytinoğlu called for the opening of Chapter Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak. 23 on the judiciary and fundamental rights and While Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan and Chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security as Transport and Infrastructure Minister Mehmet a tool to strengthen the relations. Reminding Cahit Turhan were among the high level Turkey’s good alignment level concerning representatives from the Turkish public sector, the open chapters and sectors related to the European Commission’s Vice President for Jobs, Customs Union, IKV Chairman underlined the Growth, Investment and Competitiveness modernisation of the Customs Union as a Jyrki Katainen and Commissioner for Transport driver of economic cooperation. Violeta Bulc represented the EU. Referring to the visa liberalisation dialogue, During the session co-chaired by IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu stated that Turkish Finance and Treasury Minister Albayrak and citizens were obliged to pay approximately Commission’s Vice President Katainen, the 300 million euro in the last 5 years for their financing project of the Halkalı-Kapıkule BusinessEurope, Turkish Confederation of Bank (CEB) were also present in the meeting. visa applications. Moreover, he added that Railway Line, for which the EU is envisioned to Employer Associations (TISK), SME United, In the meeting, both sides agreed on the amount would reach 500 million euros if provide 275 million euro in grants, was signed. Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s the importance of maintaining dialogue, additional costs such as transportation costs The signature has given the start to the largest Association (MUSIAD), Foreign Economic communication, cooperation, as well as and notary fees are taken into account. IKV EU investment project which will be carried Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), Confederation business initiatives between Turkey and the Chairman Zeytinoğlu talked about the positive out in Turkey. of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), EU. Moreover, high level EU representatives, impact visa liberalisation