Reaction to Turkey Being Excluded from the 'Made in Europe' Scope in Automotive
Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, President of the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry and the Economic Development Foundation, criticized the 'Made in Europe' regulation agreed upon by the leaders of France and Germany for excluding Turkey.
Dr. Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, President of the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry and the Economic Development Foundation, stated that it is unacceptable for Turkey to be excluded from the 'Made in Europe' scope determined by the leaders of France and Germany for public incentives and tenders in the automotive sector.
The consensus reached by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the 'Made in Europe' scope in the automotive sector sparked debate because it excludes vehicles produced in Turkey. According to the agreement, automotive public tenders and incentives are limited to the 27 member states of the European Union, the United Kingdom, and European Economic Area countries, with the condition that 70 percent of vehicle components, excluding batteries, must be produced in these countries.
Reminding that 73 percent of Turkey's total automotive exports are made to the European Union, Ayhan Zeytinoğlu stated that this obstacle would cause great harm to exports and trade. Stating that the process is not yet completed and the draft requires the approval of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to become law, Zeytinoğlu argued that this practice is contrary to the Customs Union and noted that recourse could be made to the European Court of Justice and World Trade Organization arbitration mechanisms if necessary.