This month, the European Union and Turkey resumed a so-called “high-level dialogue” on their economic relations for the first time in six years. The talks, held in Brussels, were led by Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for the Economy, and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos on the EU side, and Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek on Ankara’s side. The goal of the meeting was to reopen channels of communication and deepen economic cooperation after years of political tensions and stalled accession talks.
In a joint statement, both sides emphasized the importance of basing bilateral relations on shared values. “Our relationship should be guided by principles such as the rule of law, democracy, media freedom, and the protection of human rights,” the statement read. Credible and serious efforts in these areas, it said, were “fundamental to the future development of the partnership.”
The European Commission noted in its own statement that the talks included a “frank exchange” on recent domestic developments in Turkey. Specifically, it referred to the “recent arrests of elected representatives” — a barely veiled reference to the legal persecution of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul and a leading figure in the opposition CHP. İmamoğlu is widely considered the most significant challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and has increasingly come under judicial pressure in recent months. His imprisonment or political disqualification would be seen by many in the EU as a major setback for democracy in Turkey.
Observers nonetheless see the renewed dialogue as a cautious attempt by both sides to revive pragmatic cooperation despite political differences. Given the geopolitical challenges posed by the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, the EU is keen not to lose Turkey as an economic partner and security player. Ankara, for its part, hopes for progress in long-stalled talks on modernizing the customs union and easing visa requirements for Turkish citizens. Whether the dialogue will yield concrete results remains to be seen.
This and other ministerial dialogues had been suspended years ago due to the dispute between Turkey and Cyprus over energy resources in the island’s exclusive economic zone. A year ago, the European Council decided to resume relations with Turkey in a “graded, proportionate, and reversible” manner. However, following İmamoğlu’s arrest, there were calls from the European Parliament — including from the Liberals — to cancel the talks. The Commission, however, insisted on proceeding, arguing that such channels were needed to influence Ankara. Enlargement Commissioner Kos, meanwhile, canceled her attendance at the Antalya Policy Forum and a planned meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. “In light of recent concerning developments, we must recalibrate our engagement carefully,” a spokesperson explained.
Despite the ongoing domestic political crisis, the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is pressing ahead with efforts to deepen its strategic cooperation with the European Union. Ankara is signaling its intention to further develop its economic and security ties with the EU — despite mounting internal tensions. In particular, new fields of cooperation are being explored in the defense industry. Turkish officials have mentioned joint technology initiatives, research projects, and stronger integration into European supply chains.
The resumption of the high-level economic dialogue with the EU is also intended as a positive signal to international investors. In the business world, the latest wave of repression — especially the legal targeting of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu — has caused considerable unease. Western investors interpret his political sidelining as a sign of further erosion of the rule of law — a factor that could significantly damage the investment climate.
The impact of domestic escalation is already being felt. Initially, the influential business association TÜSİAD — traditionally seen as a voice of the liberal, export-oriented sector — was to be represented in Şimşek’s Brussels delegation. However, just before departure, a travel ban was imposed on its president. The reason is said to be critical remarks he made in favor of the rule of law and judicial independence.
This move has sparked international concern. Within EU circles, it is seen as yet another example of the systematic restriction of freedom of expression and economic liberty in Turkey. At the same time, the question arises of how sustainable a closer economic partnership can be under such conditions — especially given that many European decision-makers insist that economic rapprochement must go hand in hand with political reforms.
Nevertheless, the dialogue remains strategically important for both sides. Given the tense geopolitical environment — especially with regard to the war in Ukraine and the stability of the Middle East — Turkey is a key player, both as a security actor and as an energy and logistics hub. Ankara is attempting to leverage this role to reestablish itself as a reliable partner despite ongoing domestic repression.
Meanwhile, eleven individuals in Turkey were arrested for calling for a one-day nationwide consumer strike — a protest that, like many others, was supported by İmamoğlu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP). The boycott, initiated by student groups, aimed to develop new forms of protest following exhausting demonstrations, and to keep up pressure on the government. In Istanbul neighborhoods with a strong CHP presence, shops, restaurants, and cafés were noticeably emptier than usual. Elsewhere, life carried on as normal. The government responded with a counter-campaign: several ministers were photographed shopping in public, accusing the CHP of acting against the national interest. The broader aim is to criminalize protest movements.
Beyond the one-day consumer strike, the CHP has expanded its boycott calls to include specific pro-government businesses. CHP leader Özgür Özel announced that municipalities led by his party would no longer purchase vehicles from VW and Audi. He urged all CHP members to join the boycott. The reason: in Turkey, these brands are distributed by the Doğuş Group, which also owns the pro-government TV channel NTV — a network the CHP accuses of failing to adequately cover the protests. Özel said he would write to the VW works council, urging the company to find a new distributor in Turkey.
