Türkiye regulations · 15 October 2026
Bolat urges EU industrial measures to protect Customs Union partnership
Trade Minister Ömer Bolat called for Türkiye-EU industrial integration to be protected in discussions on the Industrial Accelerator Act. The announcement concerns ongoing talks, not an enacted rule.
According to the Ministry of Trade’s announcement dated 14 October 2026, Minister Ömer Bolat urged the European Union to consider its existing industrial integration with Türkiye in discussions on the Industrial Accelerator Act. Speaking after meetings in Brussels, Bolat said the eventual decision should not damage the Türkiye-EU partnership or their Customs Union relationship.
Industrial policy on the Brussels agenda
Bolat said the third Türkiye-EU High-Level Trade Dialogue meeting lasted approximately five hours. Beforehand, he attended the Türkiye-EU Business Summit, organised jointly by the Foreign Economic Relations Board and the European Business Summit. He said Türkiye’s position on bilateral relations, the Industrial Accelerator Act and the “Made in EU” approach was presented during the programme. Recalling meetings with EU officials and private-sector representatives in Brussels two weeks earlier, the minister also described the latest two days of contacts as intensive.
Official source: Ministry of Trade ↗Automotive links and supply chains highlighted
The minister said meetings with senior executives from major automotive companies highlighted the connections between Turkish and European automotive industries and the importance of supply chains. According to the figures Bolat cited, annual Türkiye-EU trade totals $233 billion, including $62 billion in automotive trade. He also said more than 60,000 European companies and investors operate in Türkiye, with investments exceeding $200 billion. Bolat used these figures to underline the scale of economic integration and the need to preserve the partnership.
Official source: Ministry of Trade ↗No new compliance obligation announced
Bolat said the EU was concerned about weakening industry and imports of industrial products, particularly subsidised goods. He described the Industrial Accelerator Act as an idea emerging in that context and said intensive discussions were taking place in the EU Council and European Parliament. The ministry’s announcement reports those discussions and Türkiye’s position. It does not announce an adopted legal text, an entry-into-force date or a new compliance obligation for companies.
Official source: Ministry of Trade ↗Diplomatic and business contacts continue
Bolat said the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Türkiye’s Permanent Delegation to the EU were working together, with contacts continuing across business, civil society, media and EU institutions. He also reported meetings with Belgian business representatives and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot. Describing meetings with European Commission members and European Parliament officials as constructive, Bolat said Türkiye was communicating its position on preventing damage to the Customs Union and industrial integration.
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