On Tuesday 15 November, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, met with the Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology, Mustafa Varank, for the first high-level dialogue on science, research, technology and innovation between the European Union and Turkey.
More specifically, the meeting focused on elements of the ‘European Green Deal’ (smart cities, green industrial production, renewable energies, etc.) as well as on innovation and education through digital technology and technology transfer.
Commissioner Gabriel emphasised that both sides had agreed to deepen and broaden their joint efforts with regard to the green and digital transition.
She noted that Turkey has been involved in the EU Framework Programmes for Innovation and Research since 2003. Turkey is also associated with other European programmes in the 2021–2027 period after signing three association agreements on 27 October 2021: Erasmus + and the European Solidarity Corps. In addition, the Commissioner made reference to the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Innovation Council (EIC), two crucial instruments for innovation that are also the subject of collaboration with Turkey.
Minister Varank affirmed that under the customs union with the EU, Turkey had harmonised its legislation with the EU acquis communautaire.
Minister Varank also took the opportunity in the op-ed to speak in favour of Turkey’s full accession to the European Union and to promote the country's role in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The issue of the “negative trend” in the Rule of law, which was highlighted by the European Commission’s 2022 Enlargement Package report on Turkey, was not raised following this intervention. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)