Turkiye-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue resumes after 6-year gap

The dialogue was initiated at a Turkiye-EU summit in 2015. Three meetings took place since then—in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

The decision to revive the dialogue was made at the EU General Affairs Council meeting last December and later approved at an EU heads of state and government summit.

The event will see ministerial-level discussions on the macroeconomic outlook, competitiveness and structural reforms, and also bring together top executives from leading Turkish and EU businesses, as well as financial institutions like the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to explore investment and trade opportunities.

The dialogue is being attended by Turkish treasury and finance minister Mehmet Simsek, EU commissioner for economy and productivity Valdis Dombrovskis and EU commissioner for enlargement Marta Kos.

Nearly 42 per cent of the country’s exports are to the EU, making it the bloc's fifth-largest trading partner.

Simsek feels there is a need to update the 1995 Turkiye-EU Customs Union, a Turkish news agency reported. He also wants smoother visa processes for businesspeople and students, as well as expanded joint projects in third countries.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)