The EU-TÜSİAD meeting discussed key aspects of EU-Türkiye relations focusing on the Customs Union and further deepening of the trade and economic relationship, including cooperation for the green and digital transitions.
The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski, and the Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives of EU Member States have met for a working breakfast with the Board of Directors of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD) at TÜSİAD’s Ankara office. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Ossowski and TÜSİAD President Mr. Orhan Turan.
The Ambassadors of EU Members States and TÜSİAD’s top management exchanged on the key aspects of EU-Türkiye trade and economic relations such as the functioning of the Customs Union, including progress in solving any irritants, its modernisation and cooperation to improve the competitiveness of the economies, such as the digital and green transition.
Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski stated that “the EU and Türkiye enjoy a very close trade relationship thanks to the Customs Union. In 2023, bilateral trade reached a new record of more than € 206 billion, making Türkiye the EU’s fifth largest trading partner. The EU remains the largest investor in Türkiye”. Ambassador Ossowski added that there are mutual benefits of further cooperation and deepening of trade and economic relations between Türkiye and the EU under the new leadership of the European Union and the new term of the European Commission. He said that “the first major initiative of this new term would be the Competitiveness Compass. The Commission sets three priorities under the Competitiveness Compass: First is closing the innovation gap with the US and China. The second is a joint plan for decarbonisation and competitiveness. And the third is increasing security and reducing dependencies. These are areas where close cooperation with Türkiye would be essential” said the Ambassador.
President of the Board of Directors of the TÜSİAD Orhan Turan underlined the importance of EU-Türkiye cooperation in the current geopolitical environment challenged by climate change, ongoing conflicts and security concerns and intensifying technological competition. He said that “reinvigorating the value- and rule-based framework of the EU-Türkiye integration partnership is not just desirable but also necessary.”
The dialogue reaffirmed the importance of Türkiye’s alignment with EU policies on trade, green and digital transition and signalled a shared commitment to a prosperous, interconnected future.
