CEOs of giant European corporations as well as professional unions express disappointment at European Commission’s recommendations and call on leaders to soften their stance toward Turkey

GÜLFEM VARLIK, ISTANBUL, December 8, 2006

Turkish Daily News  

  The European Commission's recommendation about Turkey's accession process has triggered many European businessmen to lobby on behalf of Turkey. Prominent businessmen in Europe, CEOs of giant companies, have clearly expressed their disappointment at the commission's decision to recommend not to open negotiations on eight chapters with Turkey.

  Chairman of Unilever and of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Antony Burgmans said membership of Turkey, with its strong and dynamic economy, was extremely important and added that European leaders should be ready to respond to it with proper psychological preparation.

  Many medium and big sized European companies that have invested or are planning to invest in Turkey are expected to play a key role in solving the political deadlock in Turkey's accession to the EU. This group lead by UNICE is preparing to force open the EU's doors, which never happen to be open for Turkey.

  UNICE, meeting for a dinner just before the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Jacques Chirac meet, called on Merkel not to take a stance that would damage Turkish-EU relations. UNICE head Ernest-Antoine Seilliere said, 'Whatever the consequences, we asked for the most possible gentle stance to be taken towards Turkey.' He said they wanted to avoid negative commercial reactions like a boycott. 

'This business is too critical to be left to politicians':

  Head of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) Oğuz Satıcı highlighted that as exporters they are a part of the pro-Turkey lobby activities. Exporters are evaluating their efforts to integrate with the EU. 'This process as a whole is too critical to be left to politicians,' said Satıcı. 'We conduct 55 to 60 percent of our trade with the EU and we have 40,000 exporters working with the EU. Turkey is also a priority for European exporters.  Many businessmen from France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands are aware of the fact that politicians are using Turkey's EU membership process as material for their internal political campaigns,' he said

Burgmans: disappointment:

  Burgmans said, 'Turkey is preserving its optimism in its EU membership bid.' The European Commission's recommendation not to open talks on certain chapters has created a 'great disappointment' among industrialists, he said. 'We knew this was going to be a long and thorough process right from the start. Now both sides have to act smart, be patient and follow the path of the existing negotiations,' said Burgmans. In this process, the Cyprus issue is at the forefront, he said. 'It is a great disappointment that a small country like [south] Cyprus is blocking the process. Of course, the Cyprus issue should be solved. With patience and good-will, we will overcome this issue in no time.'