Ankara: Belgium's Ambassador to Turkey, Hendrik Van de Velde, has declared his commitment to enhancing Turkish-European Union relations during his tenure in Ankara. He emphasized that the Belgium-Turkey relationship is inherently connected to the broader EU-Turkey relations. According to Anadolu Agency, Van de Velde highlighted the robust commercial ties stemming from the customs union between Turkey and the EU. He underscored the shared ambition to advance discussions on updating the Turkey-EU Customs Union and making progress on visa issues. Belgium, he noted, is a significant trade partner for Turkey within the EU, ranking sixth, with both nations engaged in the exchange of high-value products and automotive production. Regarding Turkey's EU membership aspirations, Van de Velde affirmed Belgium's support for Ankara's accession to the EU. However, he acknowledged that the process, initiated in 2005, has been sluggish due to political tensions and other issues. To expedite progress, he advocated for the st rengthening of high-level dialogues and the modernization of the Turkey-EU Customs Union. Furthermore, he remarked on the privileged relationship between Belgium and Turkey, highlighted by a significant Turkish diaspora presence in Belgium, akin to those in Germany and the Netherlands.