DEİK President Yalçındağ: Our goal is Turkey's EU membership.

DEİK President Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ Spoke on Bloomberg HT

DEİK Turkey–Europe Business Council President Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ appeared as a guest on Bloomberg HT's Finance Center program, making important statements.

Turkey's EU Membership is Our Priority

Yalçındağ evaluated the open letter written by the Turkish business community to EU leaders, emphasizing that their main goal is for Turkey to become a member of the European Union. "Europe is our largest partner, accounting for more than 50% of our trade. This is extremely valuable for us," he stated.

The Transformation of Europe

Yalçındağ discussed the impacts of Trump's re-election in the U.S. and the subsequent trade wars on the projects launched with Germany. He noted that Europe has lost its growth narrative and that his words are not being listened to, stating, “The foundational structure of the EU has also begun to be questioned.”

About the Made in Europe Project

Yalçındağ expressed that the 'Made in Europe' project, which supports products manufactured in Europe, supply chains, and employment, would negatively affect Turkey. He called for turning to alternative markets, saying, "There are many alternatives in the world, but we must first evaluate the benefits of cooperation between Europe and Turkey."

Leadership Crisis in Europe

Yalçındağ indicated that Europe is facing a leadership issue, stating, "European companies have become competitive by shifting their operations to Turkey, but there is no strong position to lead," emphasizing that Germany has not been sufficiently pioneering.

Yalçındağ, while receiving support from business people, criticized the slow management approach in Europe, stating that they are embarking on a journey to overcome this situation and have received requests for meetings. "If our roadmap is accepted, we will move to one-on-one discussions," he said, expressing hope for a positive future.