Remarks by Commissioner Várhelyi at the joint press conference with H.E. Mr. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye

Check against delivery

Good afternoon. Thank you very much Minister Fidel for having me. I'm very happy to be here in Ankara again.

After the elections major opportunity have emerged so I was quick to come to see how we could live up to our friendship, our alliance, and our partnership that we have with Türkiye, and this is why it is so important that with the new government in place in Ankara we can bring the EU-Türkiye relations forward. Because we have a strong political and economic commitment be at the people-to-people level, be at the economy, and be at the politics.

Our relations with Türkiye is key for us as well.

As you have seen, we stood by the people of Türkiye when it came to the migration flow, when it came to the devastating earthquake, and we are partners in these times when we see tectonic movements of geopolitics around us and around Türkiye.

Türkiye is a partner and the candidate country as it has been also recalled by the minister. So today we are discussing new ways of addressing the new challenges created by the new geopolitical environment around us. We want to ensure together peace, stability, and prosperity. Our exchanges to me confirmed that we have much more to do together than what separates us so we should strive to work on that.

The minister already mentioned that we have been tasked by our leaders, the European Council, to present an analysis of the EU-Türkiye relations and possible ways of a new and a positive agenda with Türkiye and this is why I'm here, I'm here to see where and how we could work on that. So, my visit today should highlight that we continue to design this productive cooperation and I think that this partnership has a huge potential ahead of us.

But I also want to list some of the achievements that we have just taken note of. I was very pleased to see that new association agreements for Türkiye's participation in the Digital Europe Program and the Single Market Program were concluded. This is progress also on the ground, for the people, and for the businesses. The participation in these programs will facilitate investments and will give direct benefit for the citizens and businesses across the country.

The other example I want to raise is the Türkiye Investment Platform which is now fully operational. Last October, when I was visiting Istanbul, we have launched that Platform, and now I am glad to announce that we have been able to commit already 317 million euros out of the EU budget as a guarantee to leverage public and private investments of at least the level of 2 billion euros. These investments are flowing into the economy of Türkiye, these investments are made to not only reinforce our economic ties but also to create growth and jobs in Türkiye and in Europe. And this should also catalyse the digital and the green transition in Türkiye. Our financial partners, including the European Investment Bank, are all engaged in this work, and I think that this will bring a new era of the economy forward in Türkiye.

And third, I want to raise the issue of our contribution to addressing the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and there you have seen we have pledged one billion euros to help the people of Türkiye -- winter is coming, and we want to move fast -- this is why we have already implemented a 115 million euros in humanitarian aid. We have also finalized another package of 417 million euros for earthquake relief and reconstruction and we are not only hopeful but also determined to deliver on the rehabilitation and reconstruction effort through the European Solidarity Fund which was requested by Türkiye at the level of 400 million euros. All proposals have been made by the European Commission. Now we're waiting for the co-legislators, the Council, and the Parliament, to provide that financing as suggested by the Commission. I'm also pleased to see that the European Investment Bank has given us positive feedback for another 400 million euros loan in support of investments in municipalities and the affected regions by the earthquake.

The fourth issue I would want to raise is something that we're going to sign a bit later in the afternoon which is about the social safety net for refugees in Türkiye because we're grateful for the work Türkiye has been doing. Türkiye has been hosting four million refugees from Syria. Türkiye has been hosting this community for a number of years now. With our help we have been bringing here all together ten billion euros by now in support. We know that this does not cover the whole effort Türkiye has been undertaking but today we are signing the last part, the last contract from this period which is 781 million euros of a contract that will create the biggest migration and refugee related contract the EU has ever concluded with anyone, and this should provide direct help to the refugees here in Türkiye. And maybe a footnote to this because we have also discuss the future of this arrangement with the minister and I think that it's safe to say that Europe is ready to continue working on that basis because we have been very grateful and I think that it has been a successful joint project with Türkiye so we are ready to continue working and the necessary proposals by the Commission have already been made.

So, all in all, I think we have a lot to do, a lot to deliver. We have discussed potential areas where we could move quickly forward: Customs Union and improving market access immediately - this is something we could do, visa facilitation - we are ready to move ahead, energy and technology, food security -I think we have a lot to deliver, and this is why I am very optimistic that from dedicated work towards the end of the year we should be able to present something tangible and something positive for our leaders together with Vice President / High Representative Joseph Borrell.

Thank you very much!