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European Commission - Statement Joint Statement on the EU-Türkyie High-Level Economic Dialogue Istanbul, 2 July 2026 The High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) between the European Union and Türkiye was held in İstanbul on 2 July 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Valdis Dombrovskis , Commissioner responsible for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification, on behalf of the EU, and Mehmet Şimşek, Minist...
European Commission - Statement Joint Statement on the EU-Türkyie High-Level Economic Dialogue Istanbul, 2 July 2026 The High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) between the European Union and Türkiye was held in İstanbul on 2 July 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Valdis Dombrovskis , Commissioner responsible for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification, on behalf of the EU, and Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance, on behalf of Türkiye. The HLED reflects the shared commitment of the EU and Türkiye to strengthening their economic and financial relations and cooperation in areas of joint interest. It is an important element in the broader efforts to enhance EU-Türkiye relations, in line with the recommendations set out in the Joint Communication on the state of play of EU-Türkiye political, economic and trade relations from November 2023, according to guidance by the European Council [1] . In times of growing geopolitical fragmentation, significant risks surrounding the economic outlook and with multilateralism put to the test, strong and mutually beneficial partnerships are more important than ever. Türkiye is a candidate country and a key partner for the EU. EU-Türkiye relations should continue to be guided by values, such as respect for the rule of law, fundamental rights, democracy and media freedom. This is particularly relevant in an increasingly polarised world to foster a mutually beneficial economic relationship, sustain economic confidence and strengthen the business environment. Sincere engagement in this direction is of fundamental importance. Türkiye informed the EU side that it has officially submitted its letter of intent to the European Payments Council (EPC), expressing its interest to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). The parties agreed that Türkiye's potential participation in SEPA would enable faster, more secure, and more cost-effective cross-border payments, facilitating trade and investment between Türkiye and EU. In this year's Governmental Meeting of the Dialogue, the parties reviewed the latest economic policy developments and outlook in the EU and Türkiye amid a challenging geopolitical environment. They discussed steps taken by Türkiye to ensure price stability, safeguard financial stability and increase productivity, and similarly by the EU to further foster competitiveness, with the shared view to promoting sustainable and inclusive growth and economic resilience. Discussions also focused on the growing importance of economic security and on potential areas for deeper bilateral cooperation, including in sectors of strategic importance for both sides. Türkiye's investment environment plays a key role in strengthening cooperation with the EU and international financial institutions (IFIs). The HLED benefited from the participation of the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). All participants appreciated the work undertaken by the IFIs to support competitiveness, economic security, connectivity, resilience and sustainability. The parties welcomed the recent re- engagement of the EIB in clean energy and energy efficiency projects in Türkiye which support SMEs and exporters. Both parties expressed their interest for further engagement in transport, energy and digital connectivity under the Connectivity Agenda. They highlighted the role played by the EBRD with a record of €2.7 billion of investments made in 2025, and acknowledged the importance of CEB in supporting resilience and inclusion through investments in social infrastructure. The parties underlined the criticality of coordination and complementarity of IFI interventions in line with EU's and Türkiye's policy priorities, to maximise added value and additionality. The EU-Türkiye High-Level Business Dialogue (HLBD), an indispensable element of the HLED, brought together EU and Turkish business community representatives as well as representatives of the IFIs and national development banks. This meeting provided a valuable opportunity for the business communities to share first-hand views, proposals and expectations on how to further enhance EU- Türkiye economic, financial and investment relations, focusing on key obstacles to doing business in the EU and Türkiye, but also on new areas and critical sectors where engagement opportunities could be further explored by both EU and Turkish companies. The parties reiterated their commitment to maintaining a regular, open and frank dialogue, to identifying and addressing common challenges, and to continuing cooperation in essential economic areas. In this regard, they agreed to meet next year in Brussels. [1] JOIN (2023) 50 final STATEMENT/26/1513 Press contacts: Balazs UJVARI (+32 2 29 54578) Francisca MARÇAL SANTOS (+32 2 29 97236) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
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