Brussels is Turkey’s second capital city, says top boss

Brussels is Turkey’s second capital, but the country suffers a "perception problem" there, the chairman of the Turkish Industrial and Business Association (TÜSİAD) has said, after his two-day visit with other TÜSİAD representatives to the European capital.

“European norms, standards, policies and other rules about doing business are determined in Brussels. What is happening in this capital should be followed very carefully. We, as Turkish people, cannot ignore what happens in Brussels,” Haluk Dinçer told daily Hürriyet.

Dinçcer noted that the TÜSÄ°AD delegation observed a "serious perception problem" about Turkey in Brussels. 

“We have things that deserve to be criticized, of course. But even when we speak about the positive moves of the Turkish government on the road to realizing Turkey’s membership to the EU, we face questioning reactions from our European counterparts. The positive moves have not been seen yet, but we hope they will be,” he said.

“The reform process needs to be started again,” Dinçer said, adding that Turkey had retreated from some important moves, especially in basic rights and liberties.

He also said any cancelation of the customs union between Turkey and the EU as a reaction to the planned free trade deal between the United States and the EU could herald the end of Turkey’s EU membership process.

“As TÜSİAD members, we agree that the planned Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership [TTIP] is a huge threat for the Turkish economy as long as Turkey isn't part of it. The potential cancelation of the customs union means, however, the termination of Turkey’s membership process with the EU. It is not possible for TÜSİAD to accept this,” he said.