Despite this, he stressed, the larger €800 billion fund, along with the growing number of Turkish firms establishing companies and joint ventures across the EU, will enable Türkiye to benefit from the bloc’s financial instruments.
Turkish companies’ growing presence in the EU through new firms and partnerships would allow Türkiye to make better use of these funds, he said.
He said Ankara aims to build prosperity-based cooperation not only with the EU, but also with its partners to the east, north and across the Mediterranean.
Fidan said the EU has succeeded in becoming a supranational entity, but “could not become a civilisation-transcending entity.”
Highlighting Türkiye’s progress, he added that Türkiye completed major infrastructure, energy, defence, health, communication and education investments largely without receiving major EU funds.
“Türkiye now has infrastructure far above the standards of many European countries, and its population is approaching 90 million,” he said.
Turkish Cypriots will not accept second-class status
Fidan also addressed the issue of Cyprus, stressing that Ankara would keep defending the equal sovereign rights of Turkish Cypriots.
“They will not accept a second-class status, and neither will we as a guarantor state,” he said, adding that the two-state model is the most realistic and stable formula.
He said he met with TRNC President Tufan Erhurman during his recent visit to Türkiye, where they discussed strengthening coordination on foreign policy, messaging and joint action.
“It was a productive meeting, and I believe we will work together in a coordinated and harmonious way,” he said.
Fidan criticised the EU for “importing the Greek Cypriot problem into its system,” saying the bloc’s decision-making rules have been exploited, leading to repeated internal deadlocks.
He noted that the EU is now seeking to shift from unanimity to qualified majority voting because it cannot take decisions on several key issues, “including those related to Türkiye.”