Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

“Success in Turkey’s membership talks with the EU will benefit all of Europe” The President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and the Vice President of EUROCHAMBRES, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Success in Turkey’s membership talks with the EU will benefit all of Europe. Past experiences have shown that expansion is a win-win situation for all involved.”​​ More. >>>

Hisarcıklıoğlu reelected unanimously as the Vice President of EUROCHAMBRES The President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, has been reelected as the Vice President of EUROCHAMBRES by unanimous vote at the Haliç Congress Center during EUROCHAMBRES’ General Assembly while the German Chamber of Commerce Chairman Richard Weber was elected as the new president.​ More. >>>

TOBB as a founding member of The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES)

Background information

Created in 1958, one year after the birth of the European Communities, EUROCHAMBRES is the Brussels based Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry. EUROCHAMBRES represents over 19 million member enterprises in Europe through 46 members (45 national associations of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and 1 transnational Chamber Orginisation) and a European network of 2000 regional and local Chambers. More than 99% of these enterprises are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Chamber members employ over 120 million employees.

EUROCHAMBRES Statutes Approved by Royal decree on 18 march 2003 and published in the Moniteur Belge on 7 April 2003, first modification published in the Moniteur Belge on 2 September 2004, second modification published on 20 June 2007.

EUROCHAMBRES Rules of Procedure The following Rules of Procedure shall apply for EUROCHAMBRES – Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry – a non-profit international association, governed by the Belgian law of 25 October 1919, as amended by the Laws of 6 November 1954 and 30 June 2000.

EUROCHAMBRES forms one of the key pillars of business representation to the European institutions. Its mission is to represent, serve and promote European Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
● Strengthening the voice and position of European Chambers as significant, respected,
valued influencers of EU affairs on all major economic issues.
● Developing the participation of European Chambers in projects of value to business.
● Enhancing the Chamber network itself, delivering services to our members, developing pan
European services for enterprises and strengthening the European Chamber network through
links and joint programmes.

MEMBERSHIP

Full Member: 27 countries
Affiliated Member: 17 countries (Turkey through TOBB)
Correspondent Member: 1 country, 1 international organisation


STATUTORY MEETINGS

TOBB AND EUROCHAMBRES

TOBB is one of the founding members of EUROCHAMBRES. TOBB became member of EUROCHAMBRES in 1966.

President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoglu has been elected as Deputy President at the EUROCHAMBRES Plenary Assembly on 14 October 2009,  for 2010 – 2011 and re-elected on 15 October 2011 for the second term of Deputy Presidency for 2012-2013.

President Hisarcıklıoğlu, has been re-elected as the Deputy President of EUROCHAMBRES by unanimous vote at the EUROCHAMBRES’ General Assembly held on 17 October 2013 at Haliç Congress Center Istanbul for 2014-2015 for the third term.  

Head of EU Department Mr Mustafa Bayburtlu represents TOBB at Budgetary Committee of EUROCHAMBRES.

EUROCHAMBRES STRATEGIC PLAN 2010 – 2013

EUROCHAMBRES strategic priority areas reflect the three key factors which EU policy makers can influence that determine businesses’ success or failure and therefore, by definition, concern Chambers of Commerce and Industry:

1. Business conditions (‘Conditions’)
2. Market opportunities (‘Markets’)
3. Access to resources (‘Resources’)

EUROCHAMBRES’ priorities for the coming years are divided into these three areas. Cutting
across these at EU level will be the implementation of the 2008 Small Business Act for Europe and the elaboration and delivery of Europe 2020, the successor to the 2000-2010 Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. Within these three priority areas, several more specific policy fields have been identified, as the table below illustrates:

WORKING GROUPS