Turkey's EU minister calls Merkel's remarks on customs union 'unfortunate'

Turkey's EU Minister Ömer Çelik on Aug. 17 described as "unfortunate" German Chancellor Angela Merkel's remarks suggesting that Berlin would not pursue an update of the customs union with Ankara. 

Çelik said bilateral problems between the two countries should not be reflected on Turkey's relationship with the EU.

"We are not opening new chapters in Turkey's [EU] accession bid and we have lowered membership preparation aid to a minimum. Also, for the time being the customs union deal with Turkey will not be changed or updated," Merkel said on Aug. 16 when asked about ties with Turkey during a live interview on YouTube.

The Customs Union between Turkey and the bloc entered into force on Dec. 31, 1995. It covers all industrial goods but does not address agriculture (except processed agricultural products), services or public procurement right now. 

The European Commission had stated on Dec. 21, 2016 that it had asked the European Council for a mandate to launch talks with Turkey to modernize the existing EU-Turkey Customs Union. 

The upgrade of the agreement forms a central part of efforts to deepen relations in key areas of joint interest identified at the EU-Turkey Summit of Nov. 29, 2015 and in the EU-Turkey statement of March 18, 2016.