European auto industry backs Türkiye’s full inclusion in ‘Made in EU’: Bolat

BRUSSELS

European automotive industry representatives back Türkiye’s full and unconditional inclusion in the European Union’s “Made in EU” framework, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said after talks in Brussels.

Bolat met Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), and representatives of its member companies during his two-day visit to the Belgian capital on July 16-17.

The talks focused on the policy and its implications for the Türkiye-EU automotive industry, Bolat said on X.

He said the longstanding investments of European carmakers in Türkiye reflected the deep industrial integration developed through the customs union and a partnership based on mutual trust.

Bolat said he was pleased to see what he described as a consensus among industry representatives on Türkiye’s full and unconditional inclusion in the framework.

He also met Maroš Šefčovič, European commissioner for trade and economic security, ahead of the next Türkiye-EU High-Level Dialogue on Trade, which Bolat said would be held in October.

The two reviewed progress on steel and e-commerce and discussed steps to deepen cooperation in public procurement and digital trade, according to Bolat.

He said they had reaffirmed a shared understanding that the “Made in EU” approach should support the customs union and the longstanding economic integration between Türkiye and the bloc.

In separate talks with Valdis Dombrovskis, European commissioner for economy and productivity, Bolat said the two discussed resilient supply chains and ways to build on the momentum in economic and trade relations.

Ankara expects the EU’s new trade and investment policies to reflect the depth of economic integration between the two sides and is ready to take concrete steps in new areas of cooperation, he added.

The “Made in EU” provisions form part of the European Commission’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, which introduces European-content and low-carbon requirements for public procurement and public support in selected sectors, including automotive.

In a position published on July 1, ACEA called for the framework’s geographical scope to cover the EU’s 27 members and Britain, while protecting existing investments by European manufacturers in Türkiye and Morocco in a targeted manner.