The first high-level financial dialogue between Türkiye and the European Union in six years marked “a very important and positive step to improve relations,” a prime official stated on Friday.
Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek stated Türkiye seeks to strengthen ties with the EU, and that the financial dialogue between the perimeters has began off positively.
Şimşek was in Brussels on Thursday for the Türkiye-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue and held talks with EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.
“The meeting took place in a very constructive atmosphere,” the minister advised Anadolu Agency (AA).
On Thursday, he stated the 2 sides developed a consensus on enhancing financial relations and rising cooperation.
The Türkiye-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue was first established at a summit in late 2015. The final assembly was held in 2019.
The choice to revive the dialogue was made on the EU General Affairs Council assembly final December and later authorized at an EU heads of state and authorities summit.
The subsequent assembly will likely be hosted in Türkiye subsequent 12 months, Şimşek stated.
For many years, Türkiye and the bloc have loved good commerce ties and cooperation on migration. However, relations have been strained over a number of points, together with the extended strategy of modernization and enlargement of the scope of the present customs union settlement, maritime points with Greece and Greek Cyprus and EU insurance policies on Syrian refugees.
Thursday’s assembly addressed the financial outlook in Europe and Türkiye, together with challenges that the 2 sides face, stated Şimşek. He stated Türkiye introduced its reform plans and disinflation efforts.
The EU facet shared its perspective on new coverage instructions amid world uncertainty, the minister famous.
“There are important changes in the world, and both the EU and Türkiye are impacted by these developments,” he stated.
Şimşek stated cooperation was mentioned as a solution to cushion the fallout from world modifications and promote mutual advantages, together with engagement in third nations.
Customs union, visa liberalization
Şimşek stated he mentioned updating the Türkiye-EU Customs Union and advancing visa liberalization with Dombrovskis and Kos.
Officials insist that its modernization would comprehensively shake up financial relations between the perimeters.
A number of disagreements over latest years have stalled the negotiations for updating the deal. The deeper Nineties-era settlement can be expanded to providers, farm items and public procurement.
Türkiye is the one non-EU nation that has a customs union cope with the bloc. The settlement was struck in 1995. In its Dec. 21, 2016, evaluation, the European Commission proposed revamping the deal.
The present customs union settlement solely covers a restricted vary of business merchandise.
The Turkish business group has been more and more exasperated by the bureaucratic hurdles concerned in securing Schengen visas, a system that was as soon as thought-about routine however has now develop into an impediment for a lot of.
Lengthy processing occasions and a rising variety of EU visa rejections lately changed into a row that has been straining already delicate relations.
Şimşek stated prime representatives of the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development additionally attended Thursday’s talks to discover funding and financing alternatives.
High-level conferences have been additionally held with European business circles.
“I can say that the economic dialogue started well and I hope this dialogue will pave the way for more dialogues to come, particularly in the fields of transportation, energy and politics,” Şimşek stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com