ISTANBUL

Türkiye and the European Union discussed important topics Monday as part of the first round of the Türkiye-EU High-Level Trade Dialogue in Brussels.

The two parties covered a number of issues including mutual collaboration to eliminate trade barriers encountered within the Customs Union, the facilitation of visa procedures, road transport quotas and new areas of cooperation including the green and digital transformation.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis and attended by Turkish and European officials.

"With reference to the fact that Türkiye is the EU's 5th largest trading partner, through constructive and intensive discussions held over the past year with the European Commission, we have established this new dialogue to build a solid foundation for the healthy functioning of the Customs Union and its modernization to adapt to new developments, Bolat said on the X platform.

The parties also agreed on a roadmap for implementing new areas of cooperation and opportunities that hold significant potential, he stressed.

Türkiye-EU trade integration will continue to be enhanced based on a mutual balance and win-win principles, “with valuable contributions from our business community representatives,” he added.

Dombrovskis also said on X that the first dialogue meeting between the EU and Türkiye was a promising step toward strengthening trade relations and removing more trade barriers in the Customs Union.