The joint declaration issued following the Intergovernmental Summit meeting, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, included a message of cooperation in many areas ranging from the defence industry to transport, from the economy and trade to Türkiye-EU relations.
Following the Türkiye-Italy third Intergovernmental Summit held at the Presidential Complex under the chairmanship of President Erdoğan and Italian Prime Minister Draghi, a joint declaration was issued.
The declaration highlights that Türkiye and Italy have been linked throughout history in Europe and the Mediterranean region by shared values, principles, and objectives, and that this remarkably solid foundation has enabled the two countries to enhance cooperation in all areas.
In the declaration which outlines how Türkiye and Italy, as two NATO allies and G20 partners with close cooperation and coordination on regional and international issues, have made substantial contributions to international peace and stability in Europe and beyond, and that the third summit convenes at a time when significant regional and global developments have been taking place, including the Ukraine-Russia war, food and energy insecurity, the normalisation process following the COVID-19 pandemic, irregular migration, and climate change, as well as natural disasters that require a unified response and immediate humanitarian intervention.
The declaration adds, "Given this context, the third summit has assisted the two countries in finding ways and instruments to review bilateral and multilateral cooperation in all areas and further develop it with the active participation of relevant official institutions, parliaments, the business community, academia, research centres, and civil society. On this occasion, both parties reaffirmed their shared desire to maintain an open and genuine dialogue as well as their will and commitment to future cooperation. The parties agreed to hold the Intergovernmental Summit on a regular basis, with the next summit scheduled to take place in Italy.”
Economy and Trade
The declaration states that the parties have reaffirmed their resolve to maintain a closer dialogue on economy and trade, as well as to establish and implement shared approaches to boost development in this field, and continues:
"Applauding the swift and robust recovery of bilateral trade volume to a historical high in 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the parties have confirmed that they will execute their joint will to sustain this growth trend and reach the targeted bilateral trade volume of $30 billion by further encouraging and facilitating bilateral trade and access to relevant markets. In this regard, the parties have agreed to hold the Türkiye-Italy Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting and Business Forum in the fourth quarter of 2022."
The declaration, which states that the parties consider direct investments between the two countries to be an essential aspect of their economic relations, highlights that the parties thus have decided to encourage Turkish and Italian investors to raise their mutual direct investment level.
Transport and Türkiye-EU relations
The declaration states that the parties, considering the significance of road transport to the development of commercial relations, have reaffirmed the necessity to hold the Road Transport Joint Commission Meeting as soon as possible to satisfy the current needs of the industry's stakeholders.
Noting that the parties stress the significance of further advancing Türkiye-EU relations in light of Türkiye's accession perspective and its potential contribution to the stability and prosperity of the entire European continent, the declaration states:
"The parties have agreed to investigate potential future steps for the development of all dimensions of Türkiye-EU relations in order to improve Türkiye's EU perspective by enhancing dialogue at all levels and across a broad range of themes, including the elimination of existing obstacles to the Customs Union's implementation and the initiation of negotiations for the Customs Union's upgrading. The parties have also committed to coordinating their efforts to achieve tangible outcomes in key areas such as the Türkiye-EU dialogue on visa liberalisation, the renewal of migration cooperation, the strengthening of counter-terrorism cooperation, and the deepening of existing cooperation regarding the Instruments for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and numerous EU programmes/mechanisms."
Field of Defence
"As part of the decisions taken at the NATO Madrid Summit and the new strategic concept, the parties have emphasized their determination to strengthen cooperation on the basis of the 360-degree approach, particularly in the fight against terrorism, threats and challenges arising from the south," notes the declaration, adding that the parties reaffirmed the significance of bolstering the NATO-EU Strategic partnership on the basis of long-standing cooperation and that the development of this partnership requires the full participation of non-EU allies, as such, Türkiye, in EU defence efforts.
The declaration includes the following:
"The parties have acknowledged that the defence industry plays a crucial role in both their existing and future relations, citing the joint projects that Turkish and Italian defence industry companies have successfully completed in recent years, and the political will to deepen this collaboration. In this respect, they have welcomed the signing of the Agreement on the Mutual Protection of Classified Information in the Defence Industry. As part of the declaration, the parties have committed to improve coordination among their police forces in the direction of the formation of the Joint Security Strategic Cooperation Committee (JSSCC) with the following goals.
To identify and assess threats and common challenges to the security of both countries, to determine areas where it is necessary to strengthen strategic cooperation by identifying joint initiatives and actions to ensure the security of the communities, to encourage the exchange of method, good practice and expertise in order to prevent the most grave forms of crime, including terrorism and cybercrime, and to consider other activities that may be useful to improve cooperation among police forces by taking into account critical situations that may affect public order and safety."
In the declaration where it is noted that the parties have reiterated their commitment to furthering and strengthening the already existing cooperation in the areas of culture, education, science, youth, sports and archives carried out in accordance with the 1951 Culture Agreement, it is also stated that the parties have reasserted their will to support incentives and promotional activities, taking into consideration the impact of tourism on the resurgence of interaction between peoples.
Combatting terrorism, climate change and environment
According to the declaration, the parties have expressed their willingness to work together to effectively combat terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations.
The declaration states that as signatories to the Paris Agreement and G20 partners, the parties have reaffirmed their resolve to increase cooperation in environmental protection and climate action in order to achieve carbon neutrality or net zero greenhouse gas emissions for the 1.5 degree increase target around or by the middle of the century, and makes the following remarks:
“As partners in the 'Southern Gas Corridor,' the parties have praised their solid cooperation in energy diversification, recognised the inclusive value of energy as a factor for common growth, security, and prosperity in the Mediterranean, and reaffirmed their determination to advance their cooperation. As a result, the parties reiterated their dedication to advancing ongoing energy cooperation to ensure supply security and diversification. They have emphasised the importance of incorporating renewable energy, energy efficiency and infrastructure, hydrogen, and the gas sector into the clean energy transition.”
Ukraine-Russia War
The parties have expressed their solidarity with Ukraine in the face of the Russian Federation's unjust and unlawful war against Ukraine, as well as their support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and “expressed their willingness to continue their efforts to bring peace to Ukraine as soon as possible.”
The declaration notes the following:
“The two parties have reaffirmed their determination to collaborate with the UN and other relevant organizations on similar humanitarian issues, emphasizing the need to take immediate steps to remove obstacles to grain exports from Ukraine. The parties have confirmed their commitment to contributing to global food security initiatives through increased coordination and cooperation. The parties emphasized that Türkiye’s co-presidency of the Mediterranean Ministerial Dialogue on Food Security Crisis, which was successfully held under the leadership of Italy in Rome on June 8, 2022, is a positive step forward in the context of efforts in this direction.
The parties have reaffirmed their determination to maintain regular strategic dialogue in order to contribute to regional and international peace, security and stability, and their commitment to multilateralism with the United Nations (UN) at its core. In this context, the parties have expressed their satisfaction with the ongoing bilateral cooperation within the UN, including the reform of the UN, and committed to safeguarding the three pillars of the UN system, namely peace and security, development and human rights.
Irregular Migration
The declaration, which states that the parties have discussed the recent migration patterns, including the Eastern and Central Mediterranean migration routes, highlights the importance of international cooperation in the fight against irregular migration, including the implementation of the Türkiye-EU Statement of 18 March 2016.
It is stated in the declaration that the parties have reiterated that "repatriation, resettlement and financial assistance are the key tools envisaged by the declaration to ensure close cooperation and fair burden-sharing, and agreed on implementing a project of the Italian Migration Fund to initiate regular consultations on migration flows and to share best practices in this field."
Eastern Mediterranean and Libya
Noting that, as two coastal countries, the parties have agreed to promote freedom of navigation and inclusive cooperation in the Mediterranean in the face of increasing energy risks, the declaration states, "The parties have emphasised the importance of resolving maritime border disputes by mutual agreement on the basis of international law in order to reach an equitable solution. The parties have stated that holding a Multilateral Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean would present an opportunity for the establishment of an inclusive cooperation mechanism in the region, provided the requisite conditions are met.
Additionally, regarding Libya, it is stated in the declaration, "The parties have reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya, firmly rejecting any unilateral actions that could lead to violence or greater divisions in the country; stressed the importance of holding free, fair and nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible on a sound legal basis. They have reaffirmed their support for the UN-mediated political process, which is both led and hosted by Libya."
In the declaration, where the parties have expressed their great concern about the Syrian crisis and reaffirmed their support for the UN-mediated political process, which aims to find a political solution to the ongoing conflict in Syria in accordance with Resolution 2254 of the United Nations Security Council, it is stated: "In this line, the parties have urged groups in Syria to participate in meaningful and constructive negotiations in the Constitutional Committee. The parties have emphasised the need to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria in accordance with Resolution 2585 of the UN Security Council and called the members of the UN Security Council to renew the resolution. The parties have also agreed to continue their extensive consultations on all aspects of the Syrian crisis, including the refugee issue and the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of refugees."
In the declaration, it is stated that the parties have agreed to continue regular and high-level bilateral talks, and the following was noted:
"The Parties have also agreed to continue bilateral and regular meetings on the EU-related matters and consultations on regional issues and developments in Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean Region, the Middle East, the Balkans, Asia and Africa, and other relevant international issues. The parties have agreed to increase collaboration between Diplomatic Academies and Strategic Research Centres or policy developing departments of the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs. The parties have agreed to enhance cooperation in public diplomacy and address strategic communication approaches on foreign policy issues concerning the two countries. On the occasion of the summit, nine agreements were concluded. The parties have emphasised their belief that the signing of these agreements will further develop their bilateral relations, which already benefit from a comprehensive agreement infrastructure."