Press remarks by High Representative Borrell and Commissioner Várhelyi on the state of play of EU-Türkiye political, economic and trade relations

"Check against delivery"

Opening remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell

We are here today to present the Joint Communication on the state of play of our political, economic and trade relations with Türkiye that the College has just adopted right now. 

With this report, I - as High Representative - and the [European] Commission will answer the request by the European Council - the European Union Leaders - that requested us to map out where we are in our relations with Türkiye and suggest how we want to shape it in a strategic and forward-looking manner.

For us, Türkiye is a very important partner, and this first assessment was already done in Spring 2021 - when we were in a turbulent period in our relations.  

It is clear that there have been difficulties in the past, such as the dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean, bilateral relations with some of our Member States, and trade irritants. But we have seen a more constructive attitude on these points although there are still open issues, which we need to address together and certainly, this includes - in a relevant position - the Cyprus issue.   

We are living in an increasingly complex and challenging geopolitical context, and the need for the European Union to strengthen its security, has a profound impact on the EU-Türkiye relations. I think that we are interested in developing a mutually beneficial partnership with Türkiye - an important neighbour, as I said, a key partner and do not forget it, a European Union candidate country - although the accession track with Türkiye remains at a standstill. This report has nothing to do with that, it is about the broad approach to Türkiye apart from its [EU] candidacy. 

Against this background and faced with a need to pursue our interests more effectively, the European union needs to consider which are the next steps in the EU-Türkiye relations.  

In this context, we have identified a number of possible options towards engagement with Türkiye in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner. Phased, proportionate and reversible manner. 

These steps are subject to the established conditionalities already set out by the European Council in June and March 2021.  

Our report makes also clear the two-tracks approach suggested by the March 2021 Communication, that was welcomed by the European Union leaders, and it still remains valid. 

We reaffirm our determination to use the instruments at our disposal to defend the interests of the EU and our Member States, as well as to uphold regional stability. 

Ensuring a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean - this is a strategic goal of the European Union. 

Engaging with Türkiye, most notably, on the Cyprus issue, but also given the importance of good neighbourhood relations with Greece, is of essence.  

Wider regional issues in the Eastern Mediterranean are also calling for a closer European Union engagement with Türkiye and other regional partners, for the much-needed work to turn the dynamics from conflict to cooperation. 

In the context of the Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, Türkiye's role in the Black Sea, as a NATO ally, is also key.  

Implementation of the European Union sanctions against Russia and actively combatting efforts of circumvention is also of paramount importance in this context.   

The proposals in this report suggest continuing and taking more steps towards engaging with Türkiye in areas of mutual interest, such as trade, investments, migration, connectivity, green and digital transition, energy, to name just a few, and also about visa facilitation.  

We suggest to resume the High-Level Dialogues and the Association Council that were suspended in 2019 - it means four years ago.  

But, at the same time, we are clear with our expectations: maintain the calm in the Eastern Mediterranean and improve its prosperity. 

For that, we also suggest making first steps towards the launching of negotiations with Türkiye on the modernisation of Customs Union.  

Again, we are clear on what we expect from Türkiye to do for this to happen, namely addressing trade irritants, to cooperate with us on preventing circumvention of sanctions against Russia and creating a climate conducive to the resumption of Cyprus settlement talks.   

And finally, the dialogue on the rule of law and fundamental rights will remain an integral part of the European Union-Türkiye relationship and we see that there is room for improvement. 

To summarise, the European Union clearly has a strategic interest to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with Türkiye and maintain a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean.  And this Joint Communication, from the High Representative and the [European] Commission responds to this objective. 

It is now for the European Leaders to give further guidance on how we take forward our engagement with Türkiye. 

Thank you. 

 

Opening remarks by Commissioner Olivér Varhelyi

I want to continue where the High Representative has just finished, and that is that we need all efforts and we propose all efforts to be taken to bridge the key differences between Ankara and our point of view. We might not see eye to eye everywhere. But certainly there is more that unites us than divides us. We must focus on cooperation, where it is feasible and mutually beneficial.

Türkiye continues to be a candidate country and key partner of the European Union, you have seen our report on that just a couple of weeks ago. Türkiye is a major NATO ally and a strategic partner in a very uneasy neighbourhood and region. We have ever closer people-to-people contacts with millions of tourists, students, businesspeople in both directions. And our economies are almost fully integrated by now with one another.

So we think that there is huge potential in taking the next steps. But of course we need also a constructive attitude from Türkiye to really support the proposals that we are making.

So we are proposing a number of actions to energise the key areas of our cooperation – as it was already mentioned by the High Representative in a progressive, proportionate and reversible manner, and of course in line with all the established conditions and guidelines by the European Council.

So let me walk you through the key recommendations:

First, about intensifying high-level engagement. For instance,

• We are proposing to restart the High-level Dialogues on Economy, Energy and Transport, under the conditions that of course Türkiye means to refrain from all illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and that it continues to respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of our Member States.
• It is also suggested to resume the work of the Association Council and the High-level Political Dialogues at all ministerial level, and to set up a new High-level Dialogue on Trade.
• These contacts will ensure, will help to deepen mutual understanding, and should also contribute to resolving existing issues and deepen the cooperation.

Second, we are proposing to energise cooperation on trade and connectivity. For example,

• We recommend resuming discussions on the draft negotiating framework for the modernisation of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union – while we should also be working in parallel on the trade irritants also mentioned by the High Representative and also that Türkiye should address any circumvention of our restrictive measures against Russia.
• As you know, Türkiye is our 7^th largest trading partner, and we are the first for Türkiye. This is why bilateral trade has grown more than four-fold and you see that we are also passing this year €200 billion of trade. This is an all-time record.
• So our recommendations is to open the door for even closer economic and trade relations.

Third – as a matter of priority – we are proposing also to explore the Member States to facilitate access to visa applications, and to facilitate the people-to-people contact, in particular for business people and students and this should include issuing multiple entry visas with longer term validities.

Fourth, we are suggesting to boost the public and private investments in Türkiye,

• In particular through the new Türkiye Investment Platform, in key areas of mutual interest such as connectivity, digital, green energy, and transition, transport connections, together with European and International Financial Institutions. We seek to leverage to create investments of the value of €2 billion with our budget guarantees of €317 million.
• And on this occasion we also invite the European Investment Bank to resume its operations across all sectors in Türkiye.

And fifth, on migration, we also suggest a more effective and mutually beneficial implementation of the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement. And to this end, we are also proposing:

• To intensify efforts to stem irregular migration, prevent departures, strengthen border control and crack down on the criminal smuggling and organised crime groups;
• Resume readmissions from the Greek islands, address the migration situation in Cyprus and prevent irregular departures on routes to the EU;
• We would also like to see the stepping up of resettlement from Türkiye to the EU;
• And we also want to support the safe, dignified and voluntary returns to the countries of origin, in close cooperation with IOM and UNHCR if this is requested by Türkiye.
• In this regard, as you know, the Commission has proposed a new strategic assistance package of €4 billion for 2024-2027 as part of the MFF mid-term review, meaning that we would like to continue on the basis of our current arrangements.

We see that the current process of re-engagement is already yielding results – for example in the trade irritants area -  so we think that it is essential both for the EU and Türkiye to pursue this agenda in good faith, in a cooperative and mutually beneficial manner.

We look forward to the strategic guidance to be issued by our leaders, and we are convinced that with these balanced and solid recommendations we can pick up the work and we can start to build a new beginning for a positive agenda step by step.

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