Overview of the ETFC project

1

Contracting Authority

• Overview of the ETFC project
• EU-Turkey Chamber Forum Partnership Projects -
  Kick-off Meeting
• 13-14 January 2009
• Istanbul

2
ETCF at a glance

• Project implemented by EUROCHAMBRES in
  cooperation with TOBB (joint project management
  team)
• Project launched December 2007, 24 months
• Total budget 4.250.000
• component A direct grant contract CFCU
  EUROCH.
• component B CFCU Call for Proposals
• Objective To strengthen dialogue and cooperation
  between Turkish and EU Chambers, as members of
  civil society, thus promoting the integration of
  EU and Turkish business communities
• Institution Building
• Acquis Communautaire

3
ETCF activities (1)

• Activities to develop the knowledge of Turkish
  chambers on the so-called EU acquis communautaire
• The survey
• Training cycle on European policies for Turkish
  Chamber executives
• 6 manuals on relevant EU legislation

4
ETCF activities (2)

• Activities to enhance the abilities of Turkish
  chambers to design and generate value-added
  services to their members
• creation of 22 partnerships
• Participation in the EUROCHAMBRES Academies
• Accreditation of approx 50 Chambers

5
ETCF activities (3)

• Communication
• Logo
• Bi-lingual leaflet
• Bi-lingual Website
• www.etcf.org.tr

6

• The survey on  Corporate preparation in Turkey
  for EU membership 

7
Survey objectives

• Detailed insight into the level of awareness and
  readiness of Turkish companies to comply with EU
  legislation
• Turkish businesses opinion about future EU
  accession, and in particular their expectations,
  fears and hopes.
• To help bridge the current information gap on the
  business-related EU legislation
• To provide the opportunity to enhance the debate
  in Turkey on EU membership within the civil
  society
• To provide basis for Chambers to design
  assistance

8
Survey methodology

• Survey conducted between July and September 2008
  9000 companies.
• Extensive questionnaire (21 questions) prepared,
  covering
• Information and compliance with the acquis
• Awareness on the accession negotiations
• Corporate strategy and attitude towards a
  potential accession
• Role of Chambers
• Turkish regional Chambers involved in
  dissemination and collection of the
  questionnaires.
• External support in polling and statistical
  analysis

9
Survey respondent profile

• 2.878 Turkish companies from all regions and
  sectors. High response rate strong interest for
  issues covered by the survey
• Mainly SMEs (97) - in particular
  micro-enterprises and small enterprises
• Presentation of result 2 days before Commission
  annual review

10

• Key findings

11
Low level of familiarity with the acquis and the
EU funds and programmes

• 2/3 of Turkish companies have a very low
  knowledge of the Instrument for Pre-accession
  Assistance (IPA)
• The EC programmes open to Turkey are not better
  known

12
How to fill the information gap?

• Information sources
• Chambers of Commerce
• Turkish government
• Universities Institutes
• Tools
• Seminars, workshops, conferences
• Printed information on EU legislation

13
Low level of familiarity with the accession
negotiationsbut will to participate to the
process
14
State of preparations
15
Particular problems expected

• Turkish companies expect important problems in
  complying with the acquis in general and in
  particular in the areas of competition and trade
• Situation varies with the size of the companies.
  Example of the environmental policy

16
Difficulties expected primarly in the financial
area
17
Future perspective
18
Final remarks

• First experience of survey implementation is very
  successful
• Provided guidance for training activities and
  publications under the ETCF project
• Provided basis to develop a comprehensive
  strategy of business support
• Provided relevant input for the EU and Turkish
  policy makers