ANKARA: Three high ranking countries officials will meet in December to discuss agenda on free trade agreement and updating the Customs Union between Turkey and the European Union to reflect Ankara’s concerns about the EU’s free trade agreements, diplomatic sources said.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides are the three officials who will visit Turkey. In addition to Ankara, Mogherini and Stylianides will also visit Gaziantep and Kilis, home to a large number of Syrian refugees.
Talks between Ankara and Brussels on updating the Customs Union agreement will only be possible after the European Commission gets authorization from the European Council to launch such negotiations with Turkey, sources said, adding that the Commission could take this mandate in 2015.
Turkey wants to be included in free trade talks between the EU and non-member third parties. Free trade agreements between the EU and third parties enable non-EU countries’ goods to enter European markets or Turkish markets via Europe without duty charges, but Turkey’s exports to non-EU countries do not benefit from the same tariff reductions granted to the EU.
As a result, Turkey still faces high tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Turkey has been voicing its concern over a number of free trade agreements signed by the EU, and is especially concerned about ongoing negotiations for the deal between the EU and the U.S.
