THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE 'MADE IN EUROPE' CRITERION FOR TURKIYE

• A seminar titled "The Made in Europe Criterion: Key Elements of a Competitive European Industry and its Potential Implications for Türkiye," organized by the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, was held on February 18th. Representatives from the Turkish Ceramics Federation also attended the meeting, which saw broad participation from the public sector, industry, and business world.

The "Made in Europe Criterion: Essential Elements of a Competitive European Industry and its Potential Implications for Türkiye" seminar, organized by the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) as part of the European Business Network Project, addressed the transformation in EU industrial policies and their impact on Türkiye. Initiatives such as the Clean Industry Accord and the Industrial Accelerator Act, recently brought to the forefront by the European Commission's policies on economic security and reducing strategic dependencies, were discussed in the panel.

The panel, moderated by BloombergHT TV Program presenter Hande Berktan, featured the following speakers: Associate Professor Çiğdem Nas, Secretary General of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV); Elif Berrak Taşyürek, Head of the EU Single Market and Green Deal Department at the Ministry of Trade; Sinan Ülgen, Director of EDAM; and Yakup Birinci, Chairman of the Board of TAYSAD.

The panel emphasized that the "Made in Europe" criterion, a prominent feature of the EU's industrial policies, will have new effects on public procurement, incentives, and financing mechanisms. According to initial information from the European Commission's draft industrial policy, priority strategic sectors such as renewable energy, automotive, steel, chemicals, defense, and artificial intelligence are listed. The plan includes introducing new procurement rules for batteries, solar and wind energy, and electric vehicles; establishing a minimum EU-origin requirement for low-carbon industrial products in public contracts; and requiring the production of electrical cables and electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Europe.

The panel noted that the "Made in Europe" approach has led to deep divisions within the EU itself. It was emphasized that the "Made in Europe" definition has divided member states, with some finding it too strict and advocating for an alternative "Made with Europe" approach.

Director of EDAM Sinan Ülgen stated, “Positioning Türkiye within the 'Made in Europe' framework is not only beneficial for Türkiye but also for the European Union. Because today, production chains are shaped not through national borders, but through integrated value chains. Trade and production relations between Türkiye and the EU are not typical third-country trade. It is a structure based on common standards, involving mutual interdependence and intertwined with industrial policies. Treating Türkiye as a third country could have negative consequences for the European economy, especially in terms of industry and supply chains.”