Turkey-EU relations: Like watching paint dry

It is apparent now that the drop in tourists visiting Turkey, especially from Europe, is not only due to fear of terror attacks. Several countries have been hit by terrorism, but none have suffered such a big loss as Turkey.

As I was recently told by one foreign official: "As long as that man is there, no tourist from Europe will come." The man in question is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This is something Turkish tourism industry players have been hearing for some time. 

As a result, supplying incentives like providing $6,000 in financial backing to charter flights will not solve the problem. European tourists do not want to come to a country where intellectuals, journalists and academics are languishing in jail.

Economy minister going to the wrong capital

Turkish Economy Nihat Zeybekci is well aware of the importance of the Customs Union deal with the European Union and will be heading to Europe in the coming days to try to update it.

Speaking at the iftar fast-breaking meal hosted by the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEİK) on June 20, Zeybekci mentioned the shortcomings of the treaty but stressed that Turkey still benefited. "In the current state we are a net winner," he said.

It has now been two years since Turkey and the EU decided to upgrade the Customs Union. It was planned to be modernized by including trade in services, agricultural products and public procurement. 

The European Commission believes such an update will be a win-win for both sides. It believes European economies will greatly benefit from an upgrading of the Customs Union with Turkey. According to Zeybekci, Turkey can by itself contribute to the EU's growth level. 

He will be heading to...