THE EUROPEAN UNION REMAINS TÜRKİYE’S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER

We are going through a period in which the global system is changing rapidly and geopolitical balances are being reshaped. Wars, energy crises, supply chain disruptions, rising protectionist trends in trade and transformations in the global security architecture in recent years are driving Europe toward new directions. The European Union is currently striving to redefine its economic competitiveness, energy security, industrial capacity and position within the global system.

Türkiye’s strategic importance for Europe has also become more evident in this process. With its robust production infrastructure, young and dynamic population, high integration into European value chains, strategic position along energy and trade corridors and capabilities in the defense industry, Türkiye stands at the forefront of countries that could play a critical role in Europe’s future.

As DEİK/Türkiye-Europe Business Councils, we approach Türkiye–EU relations not merely through the lens of current agendas, but with the understanding of jointly shaping the Europe of the future. What is needed today is to build shared capacity in the face of changing global conditions, strengthen economic resilience and place long-term partnerships on a more solid foundation.

A look at economic data clearly reflects this picture. The European Union remains Türkiye’s largest trading partner. By 2025, our trade volume reached a historic high of 233 billion dollars. While approximately 70 percent of foreign direct investment in Türkiye originates from the European Union, a significant portion of Türkiye’s overseas investments is also directed toward European countries. From the automotive and machinery sectors to textiles and construction, Turkish industry has become a natural part of the European production ecosystem.

We believe that this strong economic integration must now be elevated to a more strategic, institutional and predictable framework. In this regard, we have undertaken significant initiatives in recent months. As DEİK, we joined the DIGITALEUROPE family— one of the most comprehensive umbrella organizations in the European digital industry—in April. We view this membership as a crucial opportunity for Türkiye to foster stronger alignment and cooperation with the European digital ecosystem.

Last year, we hosted the EU–Türkiye Business Summit at the historic Egmont Palace in Brussels. The summit, which made a significant contribution to strengthening the dialogue between the Turkish and European business communities, brought together European business circles, institutional representatives and Turkish private sector representatives. The positive feedback we received following the summit demonstrated that the shared vision for the future is gaining increasingly strong traction within the business community.

This year, we will hold the second EU–Türkiye Business Summit on October 13, 2026, once again in Brussels at the Egmont Palace. We believe that this event, organized with a broader scope of participation and impact, will make the business community’s constructive role in Türkiye–EU relations more visible.

We shared the open letter we prepared, addressed to the leaders of the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission, with the international public via the Financial Times. In the letter, we emphasized the need to approach relations with Türkiye from a new and strategic perspective in the face of the structural challenges Europe is currently facing. We highlighted that Türkiye offers complementary capabilities in terms of Europe’s economic security, energy supply security, industrial resilience and global competitiveness. As part of Europe Day, we also published our letters in leading newspapers in Germany, Poland and Belgium to underscore that Türkiye-EU relations hold strategic importance for both sides in the current global context. We plan to publish these letters in “E6” countries such as France, Italy and the Netherlands as well.

In addition, we are continuing our engagements with universities, think tanks, business organizations, media representatives and diplomatic missions. We continue to pool our collective wisdom to make Türkiye’s role in European value chains, its production capacity and its strategic contributions more visible across various platforms.

We also prioritize developing relations with Europe’s Northern axis through our bilateral Business Councils operating with the Nordic countries. Given the Arctic Region’s growing strategic importance, we view closer engagement with the Nordic countries and the creation of new areas of cooperation as a key component of our European perspective.

As Europe is being reshaped today, we believe that Türkiye’s position at the center of this transformation—rather than on the periphery—will be a strategic gain for both Europe and our region. Because what is decisive in the new global order is: Reliable partnerships, integrated production capacity, a shared understanding of security and the ability to act in unison.

As DEİK/Türkiye-Europe Business Councils, we continue to carry out our work in line with this understanding.