Turkey's Ambassador to Luxembourg Engin Kaymakçı, the President of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) Turkey-Europe Business Councils Coordinator Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ, and senior Luxembourgish officials came together at a summer gathering in the capital. Hosted by Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Xavier Bettel, the meeting was attended by Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Economy Minister Lex Delles, Defense and Transport Minister Yuriko Backes, President of the Luxembourg Industrial Federation Alex Schumann, Chamber of Commerce President Fernand Ernster, and numerous representatives from politics and business.
During the talks, Ambassador Kaymakçı stressed that Turkey, as a candidate country, Customs Union partner and NATO ally, should be given its rightful place in the European Union's Industrial Acceleration Act and the updated European industrial architecture. Kaymakçı also stated that the path should be cleared for the update of the Customs Union, the EU accession process should be advanced, and concrete results from visa facilitation should be achieved as soon as possible.
DEİK official Yalçındağ, in his assessment at the meeting, conveyed that Luxembourg's Prime Minister Frieden was pleased to be attending the NATO Summit in Ankara. Yalçındağ stated that Frieden also expressed his support for the development of economic and trade relations between Turkey and Luxembourg and the EU, and for the advancement of Turkey's EU process.
Yalçındağ noted that the bilateral talks addressed in detail Turkey-EU trade relations, Turkey's EU accession process, and the need to avoid discriminatory practices in the European trade system. "We also emphasized the importance for the business world of updating the Customs Union and facilitating visa procedures," he said, adding that in addition to industry, technology and investment, defense industry cooperation, joint investments and financing were also on the agenda.
Highlighting that Luxembourg offers significant cooperation opportunities with Turkey in areas such as finance, satellite and space technologies, logistics, defense industry and tourism, Yalçındağ added that DEİK would continue contacts to deepen bilateral economic relations, strengthen Turkey's trade with the EU, and advance the membership process.
