Bolat: We are ready to continue our constructive cooperation with the European Union

The Minister of Trade stated that they have made intensive efforts to ensure mutual progress with the EU Commission regarding commercial issues in the Customs Union, and said, “We are ready to continue our constructive cooperation with the European Commission.” Bolat, who visited the Netherlands as part of the Turkey-Netherlands Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), made assessments on the EU Commission’s report titled “The State of EU-Turkey Political, Economic and Commercial Relations.” Minister Bolat stated that the report prepared by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi did not fully reflect the mutual progress achieved in Turkey-EU relations in recent times. Bolat said, “Although it has ignored some positive developments in our dialogue, we note the report’s recommendations regarding updating the Customs Union, facilitating visas for Turkish business people, and establishing a high-level trade dialogue in order to develop economic and commercial relations between Turkey and the EU. Progress in these areas should not be tied to any conditions.” “Our expectation is that the results of the report will be reflected in the decisions of the Leaders’ Summit” Stating that they have been conducting an intensive and constructive dialogue with the EU Commission since last summer to ensure mutual progress regarding commercial problems in the Customs Union, Bolat said, “In this regard, we have taken decisive steps in resolving long-term commercial problems. We evaluate the fact that some of the outputs of this dialogue and some of the steps taken by Turkey have been reflected in the report positively.” Minister Bolat made the following assessment, “Our expectation is that the results and recommendations of the report will be reflected in the decisions of the EU Leaders’ Summit to be held in mid-December.” Stating that “we are ready to continue our constructive cooperation with the European Union Commission in the coming period,” Bolat conveyed his hope that the recommendations in question will be compatible with Turkey’s EU membership perspective and contribute to the green and digital twin transformation of value chains. Bolat expressed his hope that the report announced by the EU Commission yesterday will “form the basis for concrete progress in Turkey-EU commercial and economic relations in a way that will increase our economic security and resilience.”