IKV’s Trustee Organizations: 19 65 ISSUE: 19 MAY 2016 www.ikv.org.tr / contact: [email protected] 75.5 PERCENT OF TURKISH CITIZENS SUPPORT EU MEMBERSHIP The level of support for EU membership among Turkish citizens rose 13 points over the last year. Since Turkey-EU relations have been revitalised in the context of the refugee crisis and the visa liberalisation process, this increase may be interpreted as a clear testimony of the public opinion’s support for this process. ince last year, IKV has younger age groups (18-22 age • In parallel to the increase in Scommissioned a survey which group). support for EU membership, is conducted by Realta Research • Similar to last year’s results, the the share of those believing Company with the aim of identifying main sources of information that Turkey will become an EU the level of information and as regards to the EU are Member rose from 23 percent awareness among the Turkish public traditional media tools such as to 33.8 percent compared to last opinion on the EU and further the television, newspapers and year. analysing the support for Turkey’s radio. The internet remains also • As regards to the level of EU membership. The last survey a widely-used tool to search for support granted to Turkey’s was conducted on 23-24 April information related to the EU. In EU membership, there is a 2016 in 18 provinces of Turkey with contrast, it can be noted that the rather mixed picture from the a participation of a total of 1254 official institutions of the EU and geographical point of view. With persons among which 42.6 percent Turkey are still not considered as a rate of 89.7 percent, South were women. primary sources of information Eastern Anatolia is the region among public opinion. with the highest percentage The main outcomes of this • Whilst 75.5 percent of the Turkish regarding positive expectation survey are as follows: public opinion is supporting about Turkey’s EU membership • Over the past year, the support for Turkey’s EU membership, the while the Central Anatolian region EU membership has increased to they have heard of the EU expectation that Turkey’s EU has the lowest rate of positive 75.5 percent in 2016. Whilst the before, 85 percent of participants of knowledge on the EU is high membership will actually take expectation with 65.6 percent. level of support was 61.8 percent declared that they have “none” in South Eastern Anatolia and place in the near future has • Taking into consideration the age in 2015, it can be observed that or “little” knowledge of the EU. Black Sea Regions. It can also decreased to 35.6 percent of the range, it can be observed that the the level of support rose 13 points This indicates a lack of general be observed that the level of participants to the survey and population under the age of 45 is this year. information as regards to the EU knowledge on the EU is higher only 33.8 percent expect that showing more support and has • While 9 out of 10 participants within the Turkish public opinion. within the middle age population Turkey will join the EU within the a higher rate of belief for Turkey’s to the survey have stated that • In geographical terms, the level (31-44 age group) in contrast to next five years. EU membership. PAGE 2 TURKISH BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS LOST A GREAT PIONEER: VISIONARY BUSINESSMAN IBRAHIM BODUR PASSED AWAY AT AGE 88 orn in 1928 in Çanakkale, manufacturing, defence, till 1992. Bodur contributed We, as IKV, deeply regret BIbrahim Bodur graduated chemicals, electronics, tremendously to Turkish the loss of one of the doyens from Robert College and energy, transport, tourism economy and industry of the Turkish private sector, completed his MBA in and agriculture. Today it and has figured among the Founder and Honorary the United States. Once represents Europe’s 3rd the founders of TOBB, IKV, President of the Kale Group, he returned in Turkey, he largest and the world’s 12th TÜSİAD and DEİK. one of our Founders and founded the Bodur-Eğinlioğlu largest ceramic producer. For his outstanding at the same time father of EdirneKapı Cotton Factory in In 1962, Bodur was contributions to the Turkish our Vice-President Zeynep 1951 and then Turkey’s first elected as a member economy, Bodur has been Bodur Okay, Dr. Hacı İbrahim ceramic factory in 1976. of Istanbul Chamber of awarded in 1997 the State Bodur who has tremendously Bodur founded Kale Industry (ISO) and in 1969 Medal of Distinguished contributed not only to the Holding in 1973 which he joined the ranks of Service of the Republic economic, social and cultural constitutes one of the largest TOBB Board of Directors. of Turkey and the Turkish spheres of our country but businesses in Turkey with Between 1969 and 1975, Grand National Assembly’s also to Turkey-EU relations. a total of 17 companies. he chaired TOBB’s Executive Distinguished Service We offer our deepest The main activities of the Board. Bodur was also the Prize in 2006. He has also condolences to his family group focused on ceramics longest serving Assembly been awarded numerous and to the Turkish business along with machine President of ISO from 1976 distinctions by foreign states. community. 19 65 ISSUE: 19 MAY 2016 19 65 75.5 PERCENT OF TURKISH CITIZENS SUPPORT EU IKV CONTINUES WITH ITS HORIZON MEMBERSHIP TOUR ON TURKEY-EU RELATIONS FROM THE FIRST PAGE • Among the main reasons behind the support for Turkey’s EU ACROSS TURKEY membership are the prospect of more welfare and further economic During May, IKV continued to organise a development as well as free movement, right of settlement and series of seminars within the framework educational opportunities. These are followed by the consolidation of the project entitled “A Horizon Tour on of democracy and human Turkey-EU Relations: New Dimensions, rights. For the 18-30 age groups, the expectation of increased New Objectives” opportunity for free movement is high. On the other hand, when Turkey-EU Relations discussed explained that the refugee crisis gave analysing the reasons for opposing in the Marmara Region an important impetus to Turkey- to EU membership, the EU’s double IKV organised a seminar EU relations, especially in terms of standard approach to Turkey (21.2 in Kocaeli on 9 May 2016 in accelerating the visa liberalisation percent) and the fear that Turkish cooperation with Kocaeli Chamber process and the possibility of opening and the process which awaits Turkey. the seminar, Political Counsellor culture and identity would be of Industry (KOSANO) and in Bursa new chapters. She also pointed out In this respect, she pointed out to at the Delegation of the EU to weakened with EU membership on 9 May 2016 with Bursa Chamber that the signature of the Readmission the problems encountered within Turkey, Vincent-Guillaume Poupeau (26.8 percent) are among the of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) Agreement and the decision to the current way of functioning of the explained that the removal of the reasons coming to the forefront. respectively. modernise the Customs Union were Customs Union. She explained that visa will give the opportunity for • 35.2 percent of participants In Kocaeli, the opening speech important factors behind the new the need to revise the framework Europeans and Turkish citizens to indicated that “free movement” was delivered by KOSANO and IKV wave of dynamism in Turley-EU and the scope of the Customs Union better know and understand each would be the most important Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu who relations. has arisen especially due to changes other. contribution of EU membership revealed information regarding IKV Junior Researcher Ahmet in the world trading systems and also to Turkey while 42.7 percent the various activities and projects Ceran gave a presentation regarding in Turkey and the EU’s economic and Latest developments in of participants pointed out to carried out by IKV. Within this the Turkey-EU Visa Liberalisation trade interests. IKV Senior Researcher Turkey-EU relations were assessed “new job opportunities” as the framework, he shared for the Dialogue and the refugee crisis faced Akses stressed that although Turkey in the Mediterranean Region main significant contribution. first time the results of a survey by both parties. He informed the has to align its trade policy with the IKV organised a seminar On the other hand, 13.8 percent commissioned by IKV which aims participants about the 72 criteria EU’s preferential trade regime; Turkey in Mersin on 17 May 2016 in of participants declared that EU to analyse the support for Turkey’s which need to be fulfilled by the is not included in the decision- cooperation with Mersin Chamber membership would present no EU membership among the Turkish Turkish authorities for Turkish citizens making process and the negotiations of Commerce and Industry (MTSO) benefit at all for Turkey. public opinion. The survey reveals to access the EU visa-free. He also of free trade agreements conducted and in Adana on 18 May 2016 with that 75.5 percent of the Turkish presented the main outcomes of the by the EU with third countries. This Adana Chamber of Commerce. public opinion is supporting Turkey’s third report assessing the progress creates an asymmetric situation in The seminar in Mersin was LAUNCH OF THE EU membership, compared to 61.8 achieved by Turkey in terms of disfavour of Turkey. These concerns held with the participation MTSO TRANS-ADRIATIC percent obtained in the survey fulfilling the requirements of its visa have increased following the launch Chairman Şerafettin Aşut and Mersin PIPELINE PROJECT conducted last year.