EU Chief Calls for Fresh Perspective on Türkiye Relations

(MENAFN) The European Union must reassess its relationship with Turkey as strengthened cooperation would deliver mutual benefits, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos told media in an exclusive interview before her February 5-6 Ankara visit.

"There is really more that connects EU and Türkiye than what is dividing us, and we really should work on this," she declared, emphasizing that "our economies are very much interdependent."

Kos expressed anticipation for her inaugural official trip to Türkiye, revealing she maintained "intense contacts" with Turkish counterparts "since the first day" of assuming her position, particularly with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

The commissioner positioned her diplomatic mission as consistent with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's strategy, who previously engaged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to establish new dimensions in bilateral relations.

"We are really living in challenging times. The world is changing around us. We are seeing the return of imperial behavior as China, Russia, and the US are aggressively building their spheres of interest," Kos warned.

Confronting these geopolitical pressures, Kos advocated for enhanced collaboration, noting: "Our economies are very much interdependent. Whatever happens on the field of migration on each side is affecting the other side."

She voiced optimism that a Ukraine peace accord would materialize imminently to "change the realities in Europe and also especially in the Black Sea, where I see Türkiye as a very important partner already."

Fostering Confidence Through Dialogue
Kos outlined trust-building as her visit's primary objective since "trust is getting nowadays more and more important" as political and commercial actors require partners "whom you can trust and build on."

She characterized Türkiye as the "heart" of the EU's Connectivity Strategy—a geopolitical framework designed to establish transportation, energy, digital, and human-centered links aimed at "better Europe with Central Asia and turning this middle corridor into a very, very strong connection."

"We can't do this without Türkiye," she emphasized.

European Investment Bank Resumes Turkish Operations
The Connectivity Strategy will enable significantly expanded EU collaboration with regional partners "together in the Caucasus," according to Kos.

"This is also why I'm very happy that the European Investment Bank (EIB) is coming back to Türkiye," she announced, referencing the multilateral lending institution controlled by the EU's 27 member nations that finances strategic infrastructure.

"During my visit to Ankara, two projects, each worth of €100 million ($118 million), will be signed as part of the re-engagement of the EIB, which wasn't possible for some years," Kos disclosed.

She credited the EIB's return to "high-level dialogue and economic discussions last year" that the "business community really, really loved to see."

"Now it is happening," she stated, noting the two renewable energy initiatives funded by the EIB represent "is now the start," with the EU bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the World Bank positioned to contribute substantially to future clean energy and connectivity ventures.

Supporting this agenda, Kos will convene with Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar.

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