Simsek made these remarks during a meeting with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, held at the Ministry headquarters in Ankara.

The minister stressed that this visit marks the commissioner’s first official trip to Turkiye, which, in his view, clearly reflects her commitment to strengthening Turkish-European ties, rebuilding relations, and restoring mutual trust.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly underscored that the full EU membership remains our strategic objective, the minister affirmed, describing the EU as a strategic partner on both the economic and political fronts.

He noted that, given the profound transformations the world is undergoing, close cooperation between Turkiye and the EU “is no longer an option, but a necessity,” for the sake of shared security and prosperity.

Simsek expressed that, while Ankara respects European efforts to expand its relations with Latin America and India, it considers it illogical to postpone further integration with its fifth-largest trading partner.

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