Brussels: Trkiye and the EU developed a consensus on enhancing economic relations and increasing cooperation in all areas, Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Thursday. The EU and Trkiye held the first High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) meeting in six years in Brussels on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the meeting was chaired by Trkiye's Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Valdis Dombrovskis, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. "We held the Trkiye-European Union High-Level Economic Dialogue meeting today in Brussels, after a six-year hiatus, in a very constructive atmosphere," Simsek said on X. "In the productive meetings with our EU counterparts, a consensus emerged on enhancing economic relations and increasing cooperation in all areas," he added.

Also, issues such as the modernization of the Customs Union and visa facilitation were discussed between the two sides. "The deepening of relations with Europe-based international financial institutions was evaluated," Simsek noted. "The HLED represents a mutual commitment to strengthening the EU-Trkiye economic and financial relations," said a joint statement issued following the meeting. The statement emphasized that the meeting was an important step toward strengthening relations between Trkiye and the EU.

"Trkiye is a candidate country and a key EU partner. In a challenging geopolitical environment, EU-Trkiye relations should be guided by values, such as respect for the rule of law, democracy, media freedom, and human rights, which also play a key role in sustaining economic confidence and facilitating the business environment.

"In the government-to-government session, the parties reviewed the latest economic policy developments and prospects in Trkiye and the EU, amid a challenging and highly uncertain global outlook. They also discussed recent EU initiatives on strengthening competitiveness and steps taken by Trkiye to advance structural reforms aimed at boosting productivity and long-term economic growth, as outlined in Trkiye's Economic Reform Programme (2025-2027)," it said.

The meeting was also attended by the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Council of Europe Development Bank, whereby all the parties stressed the importance of the work undertaken by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to increase competitiveness, economic sustainability, and cohesion. The joint statement noted that the EU-Trkiye Business-to-Business meeting was also held within the scope of the HLED, bringing together representatives of the Turkish and EU business worlds, representatives of international financial institutions, and national development banks participating in the Trkiye Investment Platform.

The opportunities for further development of Trkiye-EU economic, financial, and investment relations were also discussed in the HLED meeting, the statement noted, with a particular emphasis on strengthening competitiveness and facilitating SMEs' access to long-term financing.