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The Economic Development Foundation of Turkey Davut Ökütçü Chairman of IKV The reforms recently carried out in Turkey and particularly their implementation by the government, has led to a visible difference in the nation's everyday life. Nowadays its possible to see the effects of these reforms. In my opinion, Turkey has therefore passed the threshold of the political Copenhagen criteria. For this reason we are expecting the accession negotiations to start at the end of year. We expect that the EU expresses the same level of understanding towards Turkey, as has been shown to the other candidate countries, on the basis of equality between applicant countries. If you look at the Commission progress reports on the other candidates countries, one will notice that these countries had not fulfulled all the criteria. However, the EU decided to open the accession negotiations on the basis that "there was a clear political will and therefore these unreached criteria will be fulfilled during the course of the negotiations." We support this approach and expect that it is also adopted for Turkey. Dr. Şebnem Karauçak Secretary General of İKV The Commission report, which will become public in autumn, is of great importance since the Commission is the institution which follows Turkey closest. In the member states, some political parties as well as public opinion is raising some question marks. European leaders took a political decision at the Copenhagen and Helsinki Summits and the decision will be taken in December. Therefore, if the Commission report is accurate and contains positive recommendations, these leaders will then have in hand greater evidence to confront the opposition parties and their public opinion. They can then say: "Turkey has fulfilled entirely its obligations, therefore we have decided to start the negotiations". That is why, I regard the coming Commission report as very important. Secondly, I am concerned about the impact analysis i.e. the study that the Commission is undertaking regarding Turkey's strong and weak points and its potential contribution. It is crucial that this study is based on scientific fact and is conducted by the right people. People's minds are confused and some doubts have been raised. In fact, the actual debate should not be about what would happen when Turkey will become an EU member state, but if it fulfils the conditions to open the negotiations. Indeed, we cannot foresee what the situation will be in ten years time, when both the EU and Turkey will have evolved further. It is hazardous to conduct such an impact study while many questions have gone unanswered. Those responsible in the Commission should thus take great care when compiling this study. Turkey demands nothing less, all it asks for is equal treatment. The other candidate countries have also shown themselves as being less than perfect, nevertheless, a relationship was established based on trust between both parties. The EU estimated that "these countries have carried out reforms in the past, therefore they can do so in the future". Some countries which have become EU member states continue to this day to have unresolved shortfalls and are trying to fill the gap. Therefore, nothing is 100% possible. And this is particularly true for a country of Turkey's size. The prospect of membership is truly a criteria which demonstrates how fast a country is able to progress. The EU should not see it only as Turkey's success but should present it to its public opinion as its own achievement. President of TOBB Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu "The EU cannot discriminate against Turkey" I want to explain how the Turkish Business world sees the European Union and Turkey's Accession Process. Let me begin by telling you a little about the Turkish Union of Chambers. We are a federation of chambers, an umbrella organisation. We have a total of 1.2 million members, all of them operating in the private sector. They range from the smallest to the largest organisations. We regard ourselves as the artery of the Turkish economy.
We are a very important part of Turkey's democratic civil society. As such we strongly support Turkey's membership of the EU. Turkey has now carried out the pre-conditions necessary to open negotiations with the EU. Consequently, we are expecting that accession negotiations will get under way during 2005. So I believe that the European Union will abide by its values and that the Council will take the appropriate decision in December. I would consider it an act of discrimination, if a decision is made for a delay of any kind. Turkey is eager to start negotiations in 2005. We in the Turkish business community have made our plans on that basis. We are not considering any other eventuality. We think that a negative decision of any sort would damage our economy and we are working hard to ensure that this does not happen. Let me also say that I believe that the repeatedly expressed uncertainties about Turkish full membership were one reason why we did not enjoy the flows of capital and investment that were expected to follow the Customs Union with the EU in 1996. International investors are waiting for the opening of negotiations on full membership with Turkey before they make their investment decisions. Now let's look at the advantages of making Turkey part of the EU. I believe they are very considerable, both economically, and also politically and strategically.
Integrating Turkey fully into the European Union will give substantial advantages to the EU in its competition with other economic blocks. Turkey will not just contribute to the economic strength of the EU through its economic potential. It also possesses exceptional strategic importance. Turkey lies at the cross roads of the networks in energy, transport, and communications that link the countries of the east to Europe. These networks are gaining steadily in importance. Turkey believes that its geographical situation should make it a leading country in the world's trade. It already has highly developed trade links with Central Asia, the Black Sea, and the Middle East. Turkey should play a major part in opening up these countries to increased trade with the EU and securing supplies of vital raw materials and inputs from them. Turkey is a trustworthy and strong partner when it comes to international economic cooperation, whether at the regional level or the global level. Sometimes people ask what sort of member of the European Union Turkey will be. They should remember that we are already members of all sorts of other international organisations. For a start there is our contribution to NATO and our Association Agreement with the European Union. We have a good record in both cases. We are responsible people. We keep our promises. We vote according to the rules of the game. We are not going to be a burden on the EU or any kind of problem for it in the years ahead. To sum up, the opening of negotiations will consolidate everything that we have achieved so far politically and economically.
We have reached a point now from which we cannot go back. Turkey is now part of the European system in terms of economy, politics, and strategic interests. Any attempt to obstruct the Turkish accession process will itself damage stability. The immediate need now is to go on to the next natural step and open negotiations without delay. They will not make Turkey a member for a good number of years. But they will give us the firm base we need as businessmen and citizen in the planning of our futures.