The Association published the “CEA-TSRSB Joint Conference” book

The Association published the book of the “The Insurance Industry: Meeting New Challenges Facing European Society and Economy” conference, which was held during the CEA (Federation of National Insurance Associations in Europe) 2006 General Assembly, hosted by the Association between 15-17 June 2006.

The book covers the presentations made by the executives of the Undersecretariat of Treasury, European Commission, European Parliament, IAIS and Swiss Re, regarding the problems faced by the insurance sector, the framework to solve the problems and the issues having priority. The book published both in English and Turkish, will be delivered to the insurance environs both in Europe and Turkey.
 

The Association published the “European Union and the European Union Single Insurance Market” booklet

The Association, continues its efforts to inform mainly the employees of the insurance companies and all the parties in the society related with the insurance sector, in the harmonization process with the EU single insurance market.

Within these actions, by the editing of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suna Oksay, Deputy Secretary General of the Association, “European Union and the European Union Single Insurance Market” booklet was prepared by Berna Özşar, EU Specialist. The booklet focuses on the mostly asked questions about European Union and the Single Insurance Market, under 15 topics. The booklet aims at providing support to the efficiency of the negotiation process and the success of the actions taken for harmonization.
 

The Association published “Mortgage and Mortgage Insurances” book

The Association published the “Mortgage and Mortgage Insurances” book, which is the 7th of the “Insurance Research and Analysis Publications” series.

The study prepared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suna Oksay, Deputy Secretary General of the Association, and Tolga Ceylantepe, Legal and Regulatory Affairs Specialist, analizes the general structure of mortgage system and the main insurance products such as Mortgage Insurance, Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance, Title Insurance. In the study, policy samples of mortgage insurances are presented as well.
 

European Council Recommendation will effect the insurance sector

The European Commission declared its Recommendation, which was expected on December 6, on November 29, regarding the negotiations with Turkey. The Council Recommendation suggests to suspend the 8 of the 35 topics, and not to close the rest until Turkey opens its ports to Greek Cypriots. When taken into account that the concrete progress in negotiations is the closing of topics, The Recommendation, creates the image that the negotiations entered a stagnation process.

As widely known, the Additional Protocole which expands the Customs Union to the 10 new members of the EU, is not signed by Turkish side with the reason that, then the Turkish ports and airports will be opened to the Greek Cypriot planes and ships. However the European Commission argues that this is the precondition of the membership negotiations of Turkey.

In the Recommendation, prepared by the Commission for the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which will discuss the topic on December 11, the topics to be suspended or not to be opened unless Turkey applied the Additional Protocole in full force, are the free movement of goods, freedom of establishment and services, financial services including insurance, agriculture and rural development, fishing, transportation policy, customs union and foreign affairs.

Olli Rehn, EU Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement, in his statement, underlined that the negotiations weren’t suspended by the Recommendation, but that decision meant the stagnation of the negotiations. In addition Rehn remarked that, the EU and Turkey needed mutually eachother, specifying the strategic importance of their relation.

In order to become final, the Recommendation should be accepted as it is, at the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs on December 11, and should be officialized at the summit of Presidents on December 14.
 

€ 1,6 billion grant from EU to Turkey for 3 years

The European Union allocated € 1,6 billion to Turkey, for a period of 3 years between 2007-2009.

Within this framework, Turkey will be able to use a grant of € 497 million for 2007, € 538 million for 2008 and € 566 million for 2009.

Accordingly, the grant Turkey will receive in the following 3 years, will not be much different from the amount Turkey uses for 2006, which is € 500 million.

Secretariat General for EU Affairs will be in charge of technical assisstance, when the State Planning Organization, Secretariat General for EU Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be in charge of cross-border cooperation projects.

The allocation to Turkey for 2010-2013 period will be defined in 2009, following the analysis of the use of capacity of Turkey.

(Source: AB Haber)
 

World Economic Forum met in İstanbul

World Economic Forum, met in İstanbul on 23-24 November, in order to discuss the economic and geo-strategic contributions of Turkey’s membership process to Europe.

Among the topics of the agenda of the meeting, took place the membership of Turkey to EU, energy security, global competition and intercultural dialogue. Prime Minister Erdoğan, talking at the summit titled “Connecting Regions-Creating New Opportunities”, remarked that Turkey was an actor exporting stability and prosperity to its region, and an economic and cultural crossroads by its geographical location. Prime Minister Erdoğan also stated that Turkey’s joining the EU would benefit both sides and contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world.

When Joaquin Almunia, Commissioner, Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Commission, stated that positive steps were taken in the right direction even if the reform process had slowed down in the last period, Charles Emmerson, one of the authors of the World Economic Forum, underlined that it was impossible for Europe to maintain its level of prosperity and stability, as well to be a global power in the 10-20 years, without Turkey by its side.

(Source: İKV e-bulletin, 17–24 November 2006)