Erdoğan urges EU progress on customs union, visa liberalization
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on the European Union to modernize its customs union with Türkiye and advance visa liberalization talks, saying progress on the two issues would benefit all sides.
Erdoğan made the remarks at a joint press conference with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker following talks in Ankara on Aug. 10.
“I stressed to the chancellor that steps by the EU, particularly on modernizing the Customs Union and advancing the visa liberalization dialogue, would be in all our interests,” Erdoğan said.
Bilateral trade reached about $4.5 billion in 2025, and the two countries aim to raise the figure to $5 billion this year, he said.
