Ahead of the Third Meeting of the Türkiye–EU High-Level Dialogue on Climate, Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum met with EU Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra in Brussels.

01 October 2025

Ahead of the Third Meeting of the Türkiye–EU High-Level Dialogue on Climate, Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum met with EU Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra in Brussels.

Minister Kurum announced that the parties agreed on establishing new working groups with the European Union. “We conveyed our intention to strengthen cooperation across all sectors through initiatives that will expand and reinforce trade volume with the EU, enable us to jointly advance climate-related technologies, and carry out research and development activities together. Our counterparts also expressed their agreement with us, and we are therefore establishing new working groups in these areas. These groups will be integrated into climate negotiations related to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism,” he said.

While in Brussels for the Third Meeting of Türkiye–EU High-Level Dialogue on Climate, where cooperation on energy transition, climate finance, Green Taxonomy, Emissions Trading Systems, and adaptation policies is expected to be addressed, Minister Kurum also held a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Hoekstra on the margins of the event.

Following the bilateral meeting, discussions continued at the inter-delegation level, with Deputy Minister Fatma Varank and Director of Climate Change Prof. Halil Hasar accompanying Minister Kurum. 

“We Hope to Further Strengthen Cooperation Between Türkiye and the EU”

In a message shared on his social media account, Minister Kurum wrote, “Within the framework of the Third Meeting of Türkiye–EU High-Level Dialogue on Climate, we met with EU Commissioner for Climate Action Mr. Wopke Hoekstra.

Following our one-on-one meeting, we held a broader discussion with our delegations, during which we shared the projects and roadmap guiding our fight against the climate crisis, the steps we have been taking in line with our 2053 Net Zero Emissions target, our Climate Law, and the Emissions Trading System and Green Taxonomy currently under preparation. We also discussed climate justice, particularly the inclusiveness of the just transition process, as well as our candidacy for hosting COP31, which holds strategic importance for our country. I would like to thank the Commissioner for this fruitful meeting and express our hope to further strengthen cooperation between Türkiye and the EU in the fields of environment and climate action. We will continue to work on every platform toward a fairer system in which no one is left behind.”

“We Have Relaunched the High-Level Climate Dialogue”

Speaking to members of the press after the meeting, Minister Kurum recalled that the High-Level Dialogue on Climate had previously been held with former Commissioner Frans Timmermans in 2021 and 2022.

“Today, on October 1, we have relaunched the Türkiye–EU High-Level Climate Dialogue. Holding these discussions with the European Union on climate change, establishing joint working groups in line with our 2053 Net Zero Emissions target, and advancing cooperation on access to climate finance are extremely valuable for us,” he said.

“Today’s Meeting Was Extremely Valuable for Us”

Referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s announcement of Türkiye’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution during the Climate Summit held on the margins of the UN General Assembly, Minister Kurum stated, “We are clearly demonstrating our determination regarding our 2053 Net Zero Emissions target, and we are pursuing our work in this direction together with all relevant ministries. In this sense, today’s meeting was extremely valuable for us. Conducting these discussions at the highest level here with the Commissioner is highly significant.”

“We Are Establishing New Working Groups”

Emphasizing the agreement to establish new working groups to expand cooperation with the EU across multiple areas, Minister Kurum continued, “Türkiye is a candidate country for membership of the European Union. In addition to being a candidate for membership of the European Union, it is a European country. Accordingly, we have conveyed that our relations should be advanced not only in the context of climate, but also across the economy, industry, trade, and foreign policy. Our trade volume with the EU exceeds USD 200 billion. We conveyed our intention to strengthen cooperation across all sectors through initiatives that will expand and reinforce trade volume with the EU, enable us to jointly advance climate-related technologies, and carry out research and development activities together. Our counterparts also expressed their agreement with us, and we are therefore establishing new working groups in these areas. These groups will also be incorporated into climate negotiations related to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, enabling us to achieve our targets, strengthen trade, and further reinforce a shared culture of cooperation.”

“We consider it Türkiye’s legitimate right to host COP31”

Minister Kurum noted that Türkiye’s candidacy for the COP31 presidency was also raised during the bilateral meeting. “We shared our views on why Türkiye should be a candidate. We conveyed that our goal is to pursue a COP presidency process which takes into account developments both in our region and in the neighboring Middle East along the European Union’s borders, while remaining fair, equitable, and inclusive, leaving no one behind. As you know, Australia is also a candidate. We have indicated that, at a minimum, the process should be carried out through co-presidency between the two countries. We told the new Commissioner that we consider it our country’s legitimate right to host COP31, noting that Türkiye’s candidacy has previously received support from countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, and that further strengthening this cooperation would serve the interests of both Türkiye and EU member states. This is how we shared our perspective on this issue. Overall, I believe the meeting was highly productive and substantive. We discussed and consulted on nearly every issue and reached very important decisions.”