Turkey Brussels, 9 January 2015

Commissioners Johannes Hahn and Cecilia Malmström met Turkish Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi. During the meetings, mutual trade issues, in particular the functioning and improvement of the Customs Union were discussed. Political developments in Turkey and the EU as well as EU-Turkey relations were also touched upon. These first meetings took place in an open and constructive atmosphere.

Minister Zeybekçi focussed on Turkey´s concerns regarding the EU´s negotiation of new Free Trade Agreements including the TTIP with the United States. Commissioners assured the Minister that Turkish concerns have been understood in Brussels. They also exchanged views on the modernisation and extension of the scope of the Customs Union, whereby both sides committed to resume initial contacts with a view to reach a common understanding of the key elements for an upgrading of the Customs Union. Turkey also informed the Commission of its interest to contribute to the EU Investment Plan, notably within energy projects.

Other elements of mutual economic relations discussed included a Commission proposal for high-level contacts between the business communities with a new "EU-Turkey Business Roundtable", a "Mission for Growth (M4G)" to Turkey as well as an enhanced EU-Turkey high-level macro-economic economic dialogue.

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