Türkiye has an important role to play in helping Europe reduce its strategic dependencies, particularly in key industrial sectors, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said on Tuesday.
Addressing the EU-Türkiye Business Summit in Brussels, Prevot said changing global dynamics, the ongoing war in Ukraine and disruptions to supply chains had made Europe increasingly aware of its economic vulnerabilities.
"Türkiye has an important role to play, not only as an industrial market but also as a gateway to markets in the wider region," Prevot said, stressing the importance of Türkiye's manufacturing capacity, industrial expertise and connections to neighbouring markets.
He said European companies were increasingly seeking reliable partners closer to home as they reconsidered where to manufacture and store their goods.
"We should make values of its proximity, particularly in sectors where Europe needs to reduce strategic dependencies," he added.
Prevot described Türkiye as a NATO ally, an EU candidate country and a major industrial economy connecting Europe, Asia and the Middle East, saying its capabilities could contribute to making European supply chains more resilient.
Prevot also called for stronger economic cooperation between Brussels and Ankara, particularly in economic security, defence, innovation, clean energy and digital technologies.
"Our economic relationship should no longer be limited to buying and selling goods. We should also be developing, producing, and investing together," he said.
The Belgian foreign minister also voiced support for modernising the EU-Türkiye Customs Union, which he said had served both economies for around 30 years but needed to reflect changing global economic conditions.
Prevot also highlighted the results of a Belgian economic mission to Istanbul and Ankara in May, which brought together more than 400 participants.
Belgian and Turkish companies signed 33 agreements during the mission, covering sectors including defence, aerospace, energy and technology, he said, describing the outcome as encouraging.
The second edition of the EU-Türkiye Business Summit will bring together leading voices from business, government, and civil society to explore how the EU and Türkiye can transform deep economic interdependence into strategic resilience.
