Belgium Sees Türkiye as Key Partner in Strengthening Europe’s Economic Resilience
(MENAFN) Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said Türkiye could help Europe reduce its strategic dependencies, particularly in critical industrial sectors, as shifting global conditions expose vulnerabilities in manufacturing and supply chains.
Speaking at the EU-Türkiye Business Summit in Brussels on Tuesday, Prevot pointed to the effects of the war in Ukraine, international instability and supply chain disruptions, saying these developments had prompted European countries to reassess their economic security and dependence on external suppliers.
"Türkiye has an important role to play, not only as an industrial market but also as a gateway to markets in the wider region," Prevot said, highlighting the country’s manufacturing strength, industrial expertise and access to markets across neighboring regions.
He noted that European businesses were increasingly looking for dependable partners closer to home as they reconsidered where to manufacture products and maintain inventories. Türkiye’s geographical proximity and industrial capacity, he argued, could offer opportunities to strengthen regional production networks.
"We should make values of its proximity, particularly in sectors where Europe needs to reduce strategic dependencies," he added.
Prevot described Türkiye as a NATO ally, a candidate for European Union membership and a major industrial economy positioned between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He said these characteristics could make the country an important contributor to more resilient European supply chains.
The Belgian minister called for deeper economic engagement between Brussels and Ankara, identifying economic security, defense, innovation, clean energy and digital technologies as areas where cooperation could be expanded.
"Our economic relationship should no longer be limited to buying and selling goods. We should also be developing, producing, and investing together," he said.
His remarks emphasized the need to move beyond traditional trade toward partnerships involving joint research, manufacturing, investment and technological development. Such cooperation could allow European and Turkish companies to combine their capabilities while diversifying supply sources in strategically important industries.
Prevot also backed efforts to modernize the EU-Türkiye Customs Union, which has supported economic ties between the two sides for approximately three decades. He argued that the framework should be updated to reflect changes in global trade, industrial policy and economic security.
The minister pointed to the results of a Belgian economic mission to Istanbul and Ankara in May as evidence of the potential for closer business cooperation. The mission brought together more than 400 participants from the two countries.
During the visit, Belgian and Turkish companies signed 33 agreements covering several industries, including defense, aerospace, energy and technology. Prevot described the outcome as encouraging and highlighted the opportunities for further commercial engagement.
The second edition of the EU-Türkiye Business Summit is bringing together representatives from business, government and civil society to examine ways to strengthen economic ties and turn existing interdependence into greater strategic resilience.
The discussions come as European governments and businesses reassess supply chain risks and seek to secure access to essential goods, technologies and industrial capabilities. Stronger cooperation with Türkiye could form part of these efforts, particularly in sectors where reliable production capacity and regional connectivity are increasingly important.
Speaking at the EU-Türkiye Business Summit in Brussels on Tuesday, Prevot pointed to the effects of the war in Ukraine, international instability and supply chain disruptions, saying these developments had prompted European countries to reassess their economic security and dependence on external suppliers.
"Türkiye has an important role to play, not only as an industrial market but also as a gateway to markets in the wider region," Prevot said, highlighting the country’s manufacturing strength, industrial expertise and access to markets across neighboring regions.
He noted that European businesses were increasingly looking for dependable partners closer to home as they reconsidered where to manufacture products and maintain inventories. Türkiye’s geographical proximity and industrial capacity, he argued, could offer opportunities to strengthen regional production networks.
"We should make values of its proximity, particularly in sectors where Europe needs to reduce strategic dependencies," he added.
Prevot described Türkiye as a NATO ally, a candidate for European Union membership and a major industrial economy positioned between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He said these characteristics could make the country an important contributor to more resilient European supply chains.
The Belgian minister called for deeper economic engagement between Brussels and Ankara, identifying economic security, defense, innovation, clean energy and digital technologies as areas where cooperation could be expanded.
"Our economic relationship should no longer be limited to buying and selling goods. We should also be developing, producing, and investing together," he said.
His remarks emphasized the need to move beyond traditional trade toward partnerships involving joint research, manufacturing, investment and technological development. Such cooperation could allow European and Turkish companies to combine their capabilities while diversifying supply sources in strategically important industries.
Prevot also backed efforts to modernize the EU-Türkiye Customs Union, which has supported economic ties between the two sides for approximately three decades. He argued that the framework should be updated to reflect changes in global trade, industrial policy and economic security.
The minister pointed to the results of a Belgian economic mission to Istanbul and Ankara in May as evidence of the potential for closer business cooperation. The mission brought together more than 400 participants from the two countries.
During the visit, Belgian and Turkish companies signed 33 agreements covering several industries, including defense, aerospace, energy and technology. Prevot described the outcome as encouraging and highlighted the opportunities for further commercial engagement.
The second edition of the EU-Türkiye Business Summit is bringing together representatives from business, government and civil society to examine ways to strengthen economic ties and turn existing interdependence into greater strategic resilience.
The discussions come as European governments and businesses reassess supply chain risks and seek to secure access to essential goods, technologies and industrial capabilities. Stronger cooperation with Türkiye could form part of these efforts, particularly in sectors where reliable production capacity and regional connectivity are increasingly important.
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