European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos arrived in Türkiye on Friday for high-level talks centred on the modernisation of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union, which both sides have described as vital to the future of bilateral relations.
European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos arrived in Türkiye on Friday for high-level talks centred on the modernisation of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union, which both sides have described as vital to the future of bilateral relations.
Yılmaz said discussions had underscored the strategic nature of Türkiye–EU relations and the urgent need to update the Customs Union, which has been in force since 1995. He described its modernisation as essential for deepening cooperation.
Kos was welcomed in Ankara by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan before meeting Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz alongside an accompanying EU delegation.
Importance of EU-Türkiye customs union in regional stability
The Customs Union is currently limited to industrial and agricultural goods but Ankara has repeatedly called for negotiations to expand and update the agreement in line with evolving global trade dynamics.
Kos later held talks with Fidan, after which the two sides issued a joint statement reaffirming Türkiye’s status as an EU candidate country and highlighting the importance of Türkiye-EU relations in supporting regional stability.
Both sides stressed the importance of working together on a regional connectivity initiative encompassing energy, transport, digitalisation and trade, linking Türkiye’s Black Sea region with the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Fidan reiterated the need to modernise the Customs Union in light of rapidly changing trade dynamics, while Kos hailed Ankara’s engagement in an ongoing political process on Cyprus under the auspices of the UN secretary-general.
Both sides also welcomed the recent adoption of a European Commission decision facilitating the issuance of multiple-entry Schengen visas for Turkish nationals.
Türkiye was granted EU candidate status in 1999. But accession talks have stalled in recent years over issues relating to human rights and alleged democratic backsliding.
Last November, Ankara criticised a European Commission report on Türkiye as biased, rejecting its assessment of the country’s human rights record.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday as Türkiye stepped up efforts to revive stalled ...
Andy Burnham has been elected leader of Britain's governing Labour Party, clearing the way to become the country's next prime minister on Monday. The ...
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime ca...
On 17 July, AnewZ's Daybreak focused on renewed U.S. strikes on Iran, the suspension of one of President Donald Trump's teleprompter aides and Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appointment of an acting defence minister.
Hungary is channelling around two million cubic metres of water into the park's largest marshland, Fekete-rét (Black Meadow), through the Nyugati irrigation canal to replenish wetlands affected by prolonged dry conditions.
Portugal has become the first European Union member state to join HealthAI's Global Regulatory Network (GRN), as Europe prepares to implement new rules governing artificial intelligence across the bloc.
Uzbekistan is preparing for one of its hottest weeks of the year, with electricity demand expected to approach a record as temperatures are forecast to reach 44-46°C across parts of the country. Authorities are taking measures to maintain power supplies during the extreme heat.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
The half-time interval during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to be extended to around 30 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever major half-time concert.
Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday as Türkiye stepped up efforts to revive stalled peace negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia.
Andy Burnham has been elected leader of Britain's governing Labour Party, clearing the way to become the country's next prime minister on Monday. The 56-year-old pledged to spread power beyond Westminster, revive neglected communities and counter the rise of Reform UK.
Japan's parliament has approved changes to the Imperial House Law aimed at addressing the shrinking size of the imperial family while preserving the country's centuries-old male-only succession system.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
At least 20 children and one adult have been killed after a school bus carrying pupils on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda. Dozens of other passengers were injured when the vehicle reportedly lost control and overturned.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment