Belgium–Turkey relations
Belgian–Turkis relations are foreign relations atween Belgium an Turkey. Belgium haes an embassy in Ankara, a consulate–general in Istanbul an twa consulates in Antalya an İzmir.[1] Turkey haes an embassy in Brussels an a consulate–general in Antwerp.
History
eeditRelations atween the twa countries stairtit in 1837 wi the recognition o independent Belgium bi the Ottoman Empire. Diplomatic relations wur established in 1848.[2]
Poleetical relations
eeditTurkey an Belgium are baith members o the Cooncil o Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the World Trade Organization (WTO) an the Union for the Mediterranean. An aw Belgium is a European Union member an Turkey is a candidate.
The approximately 230,000 Turkis citizens livin in Belgium consteetute an important aspect in Turkey's relations w Belgium.[3][4] Thay come predominantly frae the Emirdağ district, locatit in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
In Mairch 2019, the Turkis foreign meenistry summoned the Belgian ambassador, Michel Malherbe, an relayed Turkey’s unease efter a Belgian coort blockit the prosecution o some 30 fowk wi alleged links tae the Kurdistan Wirkers’ Pairty (PKK).[5]
Belgium condemned the 2019 Turkis offencive intae north-eastren Sirie an called on Turkey tae halt it immediately.[6] The Belgian govrenment later decidit tae implement an airms embargo against Turkey.[7]
Economic relations
eeditTrade volume atween Turkey an Belgium haes increased remerkably ower the years an reached € 3 billion.[8] In 2006, Belgian exports tae Turkey increased by 9,4% (€ 1,88 billion), whereas Turkis exports tae Belgium increased 6,8% (€ 1,06 billion) comparing to 2005.[8] Belgium is the seventeenth lairgesr trade partner o Turkey.[9]
The Turkis–Belgian Business Cooncil, an organisations wi seemilar aims, give priority tae promotin commercial linkages. This Cooncil wis established in 1990.[10] Small and medium size businesses play an important role in the economies of Turkey and Belgium.[8]
Thare are mair nor 200 Belgian firms operatin in Turkey. The value o Belgian investments in Turkey is aroond € 300 million. On the ither haund, the investment o Turkish companies in Belgium haes exceeded € 1 billion.[8]
In 2008, mair nor 583,409 Belgian tourists veesitit Turkey.[9]
Visits
eeditThis section requires expansion. (July 2009) |
| Guest | Host | Place of visit | Date of visit | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister Abdullah Gül | Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt | Brussels | February 17, 2003 | [11] |
| Prime Meenister Guy Verhofstadt | Prime Meenister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan | Ankara and Istanbul | November 2–4, 2003 | [2] |
| President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives Herman De Croo | Speaker of the Parliament of Turkey Bülent Arınç | Grand Naitional Assembly o Turkey, Ankara | November 28–December 1, 2004 | [2] |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel De Gucht | Meenister o Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gül | Ankara | October 30–31, 2006 | [2] |
| President Abdullah Gül | King Albert II | Brussels | March 25–27, 2009 | [12] |
| Prime Meenister Yves Leterme | Prime Meenister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan | Ankara | December 29–30, 2009 | [13] |
References
eedit- ↑ Belgian Foreign Policy: Bilateral relations / Southeast Europe / Turkey
- ↑ a b c d Turkey´s Political Relations with Belgium / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ↑ King Baudouin Foundation. "Belgian-Turks A Bridge or a Breach between Turkey and the European Union?" (PDF). Archived frae the original (PDF) on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
- ↑ King Baudouin Foundation. "Turkish communities and the EU" (PDF). Archived frae the original (PDF) on 25 Februar 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
- ↑ Tulay Karadeniz and Philip Blenkinsop (March 11, 2019), Turkish foreign ministry summons Belgium's ambassador in Ankara Reuters.
- ↑ "Didier Reynders condemns the Turkish operation in Northeast Syria". Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (in Inglis). 9 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ↑ Brzozowski, Alexandra (14 October 2019). "EU condemns Turkey's military action, stops short of common arms embargo". www.euractiv.com (in Inglis). Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ↑ a b c d Turkey´s Commercial and Economic Relations with Belgium / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ↑ a b Türkiye–Belçika Ticari ve Ekonomik İlişkileri / T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı (in Turkis)
- ↑ "Turkish - Belgian Business Council", Turkey-Now, accessed 23 July 2009.
- ↑ Belçika Başbakanı Abdullah Gül'ün Gönlünü Aldı Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine (in Turkis)
- ↑ "President Gül Meets King Albert II of Belgium". Archived frae the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 22 Julie 2009. Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Belgian Prime Minister Leterme arrives in Turkey, Zaman, December 29, 2009