Speeches   Railways   International Relations

11/28/2017

Minister of Transport Ahmet Arslan's Visit to Brussels

Minister Arslan attended the High-Level Dialogue Meeting on Transport Policy between Turkey and European Union with Violeta Bulc, the EU Commission Member in Charge of Transport

Minister Arslan: "I hope that the problems will be resolved soon thanks to regular meetings to be organized under High-Level Transport Dialogue mechanism, which has gained another momentum today. We will become much more powerful when İstanbul Airport is built. We shared with EU, our most prominent partner in aviation, our intention to maintain our cooperation with them. Turkey and European Union are aware of the fact that this is in the interests of both sides. Both sides know that the distance to be covered on the matters of aviation will trigger positive effects in other fields as well."

Minister of Transport Ahmet Arslan attended the High-Level Dialogue Meeting on Transport Policy in Brussels with Violeta Bulc, the EU Commission Member in Charge of Transport. The Minister also met with Karmenu Villa, the EU Commissioner in Charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fishing. Arslan organized a press conference in the Permanent Representation of Turkey to EU.

Stating that the the High-Level Dialogue Meeting on Transport Policy between Turkey and European Union was very productive in terms of improving the relations between Turkey and European Union, Arslan said: "In addition to improving our relations with European Union, we had the chance to discuss our current requests and problems in the meeting. I hope that the problems will be resolved soon thanks to regular meetings to be organized under High-Level Transport Dialogue mechanism, which has gained another momentum today." 

Noting that Halkalı-Kapıkule Railway Project was one of the primary topics that were discussed, Arslan stated that they also addressed the problems with highway and railway routes on Turkey-Bulgaria border, and requested support from the EU Commission for resolution of these matters.

Also stating that railway safety was addressed during the meeting, Arslan said that they shared information about the efforts in progress in Turkey and EU. Emphasizing the quotas imposed on European Union states on Turkish carriers and the problems arising from such practices, Arslan said: "We had the chance to express before Bulc our discomfort with the taxes and charges imposed by certain European Union states on Turkish highway carriers against the Customs Union."

"We shared with EU, our most prominent partner in aviation, our intention to maintain our cooperation with them"

Reminding that Turkey has made a major breakthrough in aviation in recent years, Arslan said:

"74 percent completion has already been achieved in the Grand İstanbul Airport, and our country will rise to an even more powerful position and become an international hub once it is built We shared with EU, our most prominent partner in aviation, our intention to maintain our cooperation with them in order to improve our relations with EU. In this context, we also discussed the negotiations of Extensive Air Transport Agreement between Turkey and EU."

Regarding his meeting with EU Commissioner Vella, Minister Arslan said: "In this meeting I told Vella that we will actively participate in the projects and initiatives of European Union in Mediterranean and Black Sea provided that our rights and interests arising from the international law are respected."

"We started to build three cruise ports in İstanbul and Antalya as part of our efforts to improve the cruise ship tourism in Turkey"

Noting that cruise ship tourism saw a decline both in Mediterranean and in Turkey in recent years, and that they discussed the matters about the measures to be taken to stop and reverse this decline, Arslan stated that Turkey started its efforts for building three cruise ship ports in İstanbul and Antalya, which would greatly increase the capacity.

Stating that they agreed on maintaining the High-Level Meetings on Transport and furthering the negotiations, Arslan said: "I observe that Turkey and European Union are aware of the fact that this is in the interests of both sides. Both sides know that the distance to be covered on the matters of aviation will trigger positive effects in other fields as well. I think it was very positive and effective."

As can be remembered, we reported that the EU support for Halkalı-Kapıkule Railway Project was emphasized once more in the ceremony organized in Ankara for Installation of a Transport Data Management System (TDMS) for the Turkey - Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) of the TCDD Department of European Affairs TEBA:1842/ November 24, 2017.