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Türkiye's trade minister called Wednesday for the European Union to design its emerging trade, competition, and industrial policies in a way that formally includes Ankara, arguing that such an approach would bolster both the bloc's economic competitiveness and broader European security.
Trade Minister Omer Bolat made the case during a meeting in Madrid with his Spanish counterpart, Economy, Trade, and Business Minister Carlos Cuerpo, where the two sides reviewed bilateral economic relations, Türkiye's ties with the EU, and recent global economic developments.
The talks also produced an agreement to hold a new round of bilateral trade talks in the Spanish capital this autumn.
Bolat said the two ministers examined the EU's recent trade and competition framework, including the Industrial Accelerator Act, a sweeping legislative proposal formally introduced by the European Commission in March 2026 that seeks to reverse a decades-long erosion of the EU's manufacturing base.
The act targets energy-intensive industries, electric vehicles, and clean technologies, and sets an ambition to raise manufacturing's share of EU economic output to 20 percent of GDP by 2035, up from roughly 14 percent today.
"We emphasized that shaping these policies through an inclusive approach that also covers Türkiye would make significant contributions both to the EU's competitiveness and to Europe's economic security," Bolat said after the meeting, posting his remarks on NSosyal, a Turkish social media platform.
A recurring theme in the meeting was Türkiye's push to update the Customs Union that has governed its trade relationship with the EU since 1996.
Bolat described the agreement as the foundation of Ankara's deep economic integration with EU member states, and said both sides discussed Türkiye's expectations for its updating and more effective implementation.
The 1996 Customs Union, which traces its legal basis to the 1963 Ankara Association Agreement, covers industrial goods and processed agricultural products but excludes services, agriculture, and digital trade, gaps that Ankara and Brussels have long sought to bridge.
The European Commission requested a mandate to modernize the deal as far back as December 2016, though disputes over democratic standards, Cyprus, and foreign policy differences blocked any progress for years.
Momentum has cautiously rebuilt since mid-2024, and a meeting in Ankara earlier this year between EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan produced a joint statement expressing willingness to work toward modernization, though formal negotiating directives from the EU Council remain pending.
Bolat also flagged public procurement as a priority area for advancing economic cooperation between Türkiye and EU member states, without providing further details.
Spain ranks as Türkiye's fourth-largest trading partner within the EU, with annual two-way trade currently standing at about $20.5 billion. Bolat said the two governments are aiming to push that figure to $25 billion in the medium term, describing Spain as a strategic partner, friend, and ally.
To that end, Bolat and Cuerpo agreed to convene the fourth meeting of the Türkiye-Spain Joint Economic and Trade Commission, known as JETCO, in Madrid this fall, with substantial participation expected from the business communities of both countries.
Bolat characterized the longstanding relationship between Ankara and Madrid as a durable one that both sides intend to deepen through innovative business partnerships and mutual trust.
The meeting also touched on matters beyond trade. Bolat congratulated Spain on winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup last month and offered Ankara's condolences over recent wildfires that have affected the country.
He reaffirmed Türkiye's support for Spain in managing the fires, noting that Ankara had already deployed two firefighting aircraft to assist in containment efforts.
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