Turkish FM says Greek Cypriot side blocks EU‑Turkey customs union upgrade

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused the Greek Cypriot administration of deliberately blocking the planned upgrade of the Turkey‑EU Customs Union. He said the “Greek Cypriot side exerts a specific blockage on this issue, so steps cannot be taken at the desired speed.”

Fidan added that an overwhelming majority of EU member states support modernising the customs agreement, but progress is stalled by Nicosia’s opposition. He linked the dispute to broader Turkey‑EU relations, noting recent high‑level talks with Kyrgyzstan and the upcoming NATO summit, and highlighted Turkey’s interest in deeper economic integration, including possible participation in the euro‑area SEPA system.