On 2 July 2026, the European Union and Türkiye held the High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) in Istanbul, co-chaired by EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis and Turkish Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek. The meeting focused on strengthening economic and financial relations amid geopolitical fragmentation, with Türkiye announcing it had submitted a letter of intent to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), a move both sides said would facilitate faster and cheaper cross-border payments and boost trade and investment.
The HLED is part of broader efforts to enhance EU-Türkiye relations, following the November 2023 Joint Communication on the state of play of political, economic and trade relations, as endorsed by the European Council. During the meeting, the parties reviewed economic policy developments in the EU and Türkiye, with Türkiye outlining steps to ensure price stability and financial stability, while the EU highlighted its competitiveness agenda. Discussions also covered economic security and deeper bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors, with Türkiye's investment environment seen as key to strengthening ties with the EU and international financial institutions (IFIs).
The dialogue included participation from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). The parties welcomed the EIB's renewed engagement in clean energy and energy efficiency projects in Türkiye supporting SMEs and exporters, and noted the EBRD's record €2.7 billion in investments in 2025. They also acknowledged the CEB's role in social infrastructure investments. The EU and Türkiye expressed interest in further cooperation on transport, energy, and digital connectivity under the Connectivity Agenda.
A parallel High-Level Business Dialogue (HLBD) brought together business representatives from both sides, along with IFIs and national development banks, to discuss obstacles to doing business and explore new areas for engagement. The parties agreed to hold the next HLED in Brussels in 2027, reiterating their commitment to regular dialogue on common economic challenges.