Made in EU Plan Splits France, Germany as Türkiye Seeks In
(MENAFN) The European Union’s “Made in EU” proposals are designed to sharpen the bloc’s competitiveness and help it adapt to shifting global trade conditions, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told a Turkish news agency on Tuesday.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat after the High-Level EU-Türkiye Trade Dialogue, Sefcovic said the European Commission drafted the measures in response to a changed trade landscape, including worries over state subsidies and trade-distorting practices.
Pressed by the agency on objections from some member states, Sefcovic defended the Commission’s approach.
“Many of the proposals which you highlighted are currently in the legislative process, so they go through the usual procedures when they’re discussed in the parliament, in the (European) Council, but I believe that the goal is the same: to make sure that Europe is more competitive, stronger, and better fit for the current very volatile trade world,” said Sefcovic.
The rules have exposed a rift among EU capitals over which countries should qualify. France backs an EU-only approach. Germany wants eligibility widened to trusted partners such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan, with Türkiye potentially included as well.
Sefcovic said the plan followed a “very thorough reflection” on how to answer new global trade realities. He cited fears that the European market had been flooded with goods, amid strong suspicions that some trade practices breached World Trade Organization rules. The EU, he added, is looking for new tools to tackle subsidies, trade-distorting practices and related challenges while staying committed to free and fair trade.
Progress on customs and trade barriers
Sefcovic announced headway on barriers tied to Türkiye’s import control system, TAREKS, saying Ankara had introduced several transparency measures to make it easier for EU exporters to use.
The two sides also agreed a Mutual Recognition Agreement covering their Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programs, now published in the EU’s Official Journal. Each side will recognize the other’s trusted traders, allowing their goods to move through faster border procedures.
“This is a real step forward for smooth trade flows and customs cooperation within the current Customs Union framework,” said Sefcovic.
Türkiye presses for a place in EU industrial plans
Bolat insisted that Türkiye be fully integrated into the EU’s new industrial strategies, arguing that three decades of the Customs Union have bound the two economies and their supply chains tightly together.
He described Türkiye as far more than a trading partner, calling it an “indispensable part” of Europe’s production ecosystem and value chains, with the automotive sector as a prime example.
Bolat urged Brussels to treat Türkiye as a partner country, or an equivalent partner, from the outset of its proposed Industrial Accelerator Act and “Made in EU” initiative.
He also welcomed the constructive tone of the talks with the Commission, saying the two sides stay in regular contact to resolve trade problems and identify new areas for cooperation, particularly in the green and digital transitions.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat after the High-Level EU-Türkiye Trade Dialogue, Sefcovic said the European Commission drafted the measures in response to a changed trade landscape, including worries over state subsidies and trade-distorting practices.
Pressed by the agency on objections from some member states, Sefcovic defended the Commission’s approach.
“Many of the proposals which you highlighted are currently in the legislative process, so they go through the usual procedures when they’re discussed in the parliament, in the (European) Council, but I believe that the goal is the same: to make sure that Europe is more competitive, stronger, and better fit for the current very volatile trade world,” said Sefcovic.
The rules have exposed a rift among EU capitals over which countries should qualify. France backs an EU-only approach. Germany wants eligibility widened to trusted partners such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan, with Türkiye potentially included as well.
Sefcovic said the plan followed a “very thorough reflection” on how to answer new global trade realities. He cited fears that the European market had been flooded with goods, amid strong suspicions that some trade practices breached World Trade Organization rules. The EU, he added, is looking for new tools to tackle subsidies, trade-distorting practices and related challenges while staying committed to free and fair trade.
Progress on customs and trade barriers
Sefcovic announced headway on barriers tied to Türkiye’s import control system, TAREKS, saying Ankara had introduced several transparency measures to make it easier for EU exporters to use.
The two sides also agreed a Mutual Recognition Agreement covering their Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programs, now published in the EU’s Official Journal. Each side will recognize the other’s trusted traders, allowing their goods to move through faster border procedures.
“This is a real step forward for smooth trade flows and customs cooperation within the current Customs Union framework,” said Sefcovic.
Türkiye presses for a place in EU industrial plans
Bolat insisted that Türkiye be fully integrated into the EU’s new industrial strategies, arguing that three decades of the Customs Union have bound the two economies and their supply chains tightly together.
He described Türkiye as far more than a trading partner, calling it an “indispensable part” of Europe’s production ecosystem and value chains, with the automotive sector as a prime example.
Bolat urged Brussels to treat Türkiye as a partner country, or an equivalent partner, from the outset of its proposed Industrial Accelerator Act and “Made in EU” initiative.
He also welcomed the constructive tone of the talks with the Commission, saying the two sides stay in regular contact to resolve trade problems and identify new areas for cooperation, particularly in the green and digital transitions.
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