Türkiye’s EU envoy evaluates relations, calls for concrete steps in 2025

Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, Ambassador Faruk Kaymakci, highlighted progress and challenges in Türkiye-EU relations during a briefing on expectations for 2025.

Kaymakci emphasized the need to lift obstacles to high-level political dialogue and Council of Association meetings, calling the ongoing delays “highly unreasonable.”

“Not addressing Türkiye-EU relations, regional foreign policy issues, or security and defense topics in High-Level Political Dialogue or the Council of Association meetings is a highly unreasonable situation,” Kaymakci stated, urging for immediate action in 2025 to normalize and enhance bilateral ties.

EU-Türkiye ties show signs of recovery in 2024

Kaymakci noted that 2024 saw comprehensive discussions on Türkiye-EU relations, highlighting areas of cooperation such as economy, energy and transportation.

The year also marked renewed dialogue following reduced tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and improved bilateral ties with Greece.

Despite some progress, Kaymakci criticized the EU’s restrictive measures against Türkiye since July 2019 and called for the implementation of proposals under the EU’s Joint Communication shared in November 2023.

“While the Joint Communication falls short of our expectations, it proposes lifting several restrictive measures and advancing discussions on Customs Union modernization, visa facilitation, and established dialogue mechanisms,” he said.

Economic cooperation and European Investment Bank activity

Türkiye expects concrete steps from the EU, particularly in restoring the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) normal operations in the country.

“The EU Council signaled green lights for High-Level Economic Dialogue and the resumption of EIB activities in Türkiye, but we now expect tangible progress. We want to see clear dates for these developments,” Kaymakci said.

The ambassador emphasized the importance of the EIB’s role in Türkiye, noting its pre-2019 operations and a €450 million ($468.6 million) loan provided after the recent earthquake.

He linked EIB activity to the effectiveness of the Türkiye Investment Platform and broader economic collaboration.

Türkiye optimistic about 2025 developments

Kaymakci described 2024 as a year of milestones and expressed optimism for further normalization in 2025, citing positive signals from EU leaders.

High-level dialogues in science, health, and trade were initiated, and Türkiye engaged extensively with EU institutions through visits by Turkish ministers.

Kaymakci welcomed recent diplomatic exchanges, including a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and planned engagements in 2025 with European Commission officials and other EU representatives.

“These visits underscore Türkiye’s status as a candidate country and provide hope for enhanced cooperation in 2025,” he stated.

Call for full dialogue restoration

Kaymakci reiterated Türkiye’s call to resume all suspended dialogue mechanisms, including political, economic, energy, and transportation discussions.

“Our expectation is the reopening of all high-level dialogues and the activation of mechanisms like the Council of Association early in 2025,” he said.

Kaymakci also underscored the need for an inclusive approach from the EU, rejecting selective engagement. “Dialogue mechanisms must serve the interests of both Türkiye and the EU. We cannot accept a transactional approach,” he stated.