Turkey and the European Union are set to hold a high-level economy meeting after a 6-year hiatus. The meeting will be attended by Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mehmet Şimşek. The Turkey-European Union (EU) High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) Meeting will take place in Brussels tomorrow, after a 6-year gap. According to information obtained from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the decision to establish the HLED mechanism was made during the Turkey-EU Summit held on November 29, 2015, aiming to enhance dialogue channels between Turkey and the EU. Within this context, three meetings were conducted in 2016, 2017, and 2019. Turkey hosted the first and third meetings, while Belgium hosted the second one. Most recently, in December 2024, during the EU General Affairs Council meeting, it was decided to revitalize the dialogue. This decision was further approved at the EU State and Government Leaders Summit and officially put into effect. Therefore, the first meeting of this new period is scheduled to take place in Brussels on April 3rd. Opening speeches will be delivered by Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. The meeting holds significance in accelerating economic relations between the parties and deepening strategic cooperation. The meeting will comprise two main sections. In the first section, macroeconomic outlooks of Turkey and the EU at the ministerial level, steps to be taken in competitiveness, and structural reforms will be discussed. Minister Şimşek and Commissioner Dombrovskis will co-chair these sessions. In the second section, leading representatives from the business sectors of Turkey and the EU will meet with ministers and commissioners to evaluate common investment and trade opportunities. Senior executives from European-based financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and European Bank for Development and Reconstruction will also participate in the meetings. Minister Şimşek will engage in bilateral meetings with Dombrovskis and Kos during the meetings. Discussions will focus on the future of relations and potential areas of cooperation. Emphasizing Turkey’s strategic goal of EU membership, Minister Şimşek highlighted that around 42% of the country’s exports are directed to EU countries, and Turkey is among the EU’s top 5 trading partners. Pointing out the necessity of updating the trade framework in light of increasing protectionist trends in global trade, as well as developments in e-commerce, digitization, and green transformation, Şimşek noted: “Updating the Customs Union to include public procurement, services, and agriculture sectors, facilitating visa processes for business people and students, and developing joint projects in third countries present significant opportunities for Turkey-EU cooperation. With the competence and capabilities spanning a wide range of areas from defense to energy, agriculture, and manufacturing, we are ready for stronger and multi-dimensional collaborations with the EU.”