Türkiye calls on the European Union to unconditionally start talks for the modernization of the customs union while expressing its discomfort about the postponement of the approval of a key report that draws a road map for the future ties between Ankara and Brussels at the latest EU Council summit.
“We are expecting the start of technical talks for the modernization of the customs union without any pre-conditions and we want the EU Council to give necessary authorization to the European Commission to this end,” diplomatic sources told the Hürriyet Daily News on Dec. 18 in Ankara.
Türkiye and the EU implemented a 1996-dated customs union agreement and they are yet to start to negotiate to expand its scope and modernize it in accordance with the current trends in global trade.
The EU has been delaying the launch of joint efforts due to political reasons. Brussels has once again delayed discussing the modernization of the customs union although a report penned by Josep Borrell, the high representative on security and foreign policy of the European Commission, calls on a start to these talks.
