Building Resilience and Competitiveness: Türkiye-EU Business Forum Highlights Shared Path Toward Sustainable Growth

The Türkiye-EU Business Forum 2025, held under the theme “Building Resilience and Competitiveness”, brought together policymakers, business leaders, and stakeholders from across Europe and Türkiye to explore how closer cooperation can strengthen economic ties, support the green and digital transitions, and enhance regional resilience in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

Shared Vision for a Stronger Partnership

Opening the forum, Türkiye Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı and German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski underlined their shared ambition to align economies for a green and digital future. The discussions emphasised that in an increasingly fragmented world, working together would make both partners stronger, more competitive, and better equipped to navigate global challenges.

Welcome Remarks by Thomas Hans Ossowski, Ambassador of Germany to the EU

Other recurring themes included energy cooperation, innovation, the Middle Corridor connectivity agenda, and sustainable industrial transformation, all seen as crucial components of a renewed Türkiye-EU partnership.

Key Priorities for Action

The forum identified several tangible priorities for strengthening relations between Türkiye and the EU:

• Modernising the Customs Union to reflect current economic realities and unlock new trade opportunities.

• Visa facilitation to enhance mobility for business people, academics, and students.

• Investment cooperation, including operationalising the Türkiye Investment Platform and restoring European Investment Bank activity.

• Dialogue on rule of law and governance, reinforcing democratic principles as the foundation for deeper economic integration.

Germany and other EU member states reaffirmed their support for a revitalised accession perspective for Türkiye, emphasising its central role in Europe’s economic and geopolitical landscape.

Driving the Green and Digital Transitions

Across multiple panels, experts discussed how Türkiye and the EU can collaborate on the twin transitions reshaping global industries.

In the “Powering the Future” session, energy and industrial leaders explored strategies for achieving net-zero emissions through innovation, technology, and climate finance. Panelists noted that over half of Türkiye’s electricity already comes from renewable sources, with growing opportunities for cooperation in solar, hydrogen, and green steel production.

Panel 1: Powering the Future – Energy, Innovation, and Trade in the Net-Zero Era

The mobility panel examined how Türkiye’s manufacturing and engineering strength can contribute to Europe’s sustainable transport ecosystem. From electric and autonomous buses to battery technologies, participants highlighted joint R&D and harmonised regulatory frameworks as key enablers of a shared clean mobility future.

Panel 2: Sustainable Mobility Towards Net-Zero

In the smart cities session, representatives from the European Commission, World Bank, and Turkish construction and technology sectors showcased how digital innovation and data-driven policymaking can transform urban environments. The discussion underscored the importance of public-private collaboration, open data, and skills development to drive sustainable urban growth.

Panel 3: Smart Cities, Infrastructure, and Urban Innovation

Finally, a dedicated session on the Middle Corridor - the trade route linking Asia and Europe through Türkiye and Central Asia - emphasised the need for investment, regulatory alignment, and environmental standards to build a resilient, reliable, and sustainable trade network.

Panel 4: The Middle Corridor: Advancing Global Value Chain Resilience

A Call for Integration and Action

The forum concluded with a powerful message: the time has come to move from dialogue to joint action. Both Türkiye and the EU share a vision of mutual prosperity based on innovation, sustainability, and rule-based cooperation.

As the closing speakers affirmed, a modern, integrated Türkiye is not just a strategic partner but a central pillar of Europe’s resilience and a catalyst for its competitiveness in the global economy.

Final Conclusions: A Roadmap for EU–Türkiye Strategic Alignment

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