ATHENS – [Photo: Prime Minister of Greece/ Press Office]
Following their meeting in Ankara on Wednesday, February 11, in the context of the 6th High Level Cooperation Council, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a Joint Declaration, stressing their commitment to dialog and cooperation.
The full declaration follows (official translation provided by Prime Minister’s office):
Joint Declaration Between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the Government of the Hellenic Republic
The President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, H.E. Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis met in Ankara on February 11, 2026 within the framework of the 6th High Level Cooperation Council meeting between Türkiye and Greece. The two Leaders co-chaired the session of the sixth meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council, with the participation of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs as coordinators and Ministers responsible for Treasury and Finance/Economy and Finance; Interior/Migration and Asylum, Citizen Protection, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection; Culture and Tourism/Culture; National Education/Education, Religious Affairs and Sports; Industry and Technology/Development, Infrastructure and Transportation; and Trade.
The two Leaders have noted the following:
-Türkiye and Greece emphasized once again that they are determined to foster friendly relations and good neighbourliness, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and understanding in line with the “Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good-Neighbourliness” which was signed on 7 December 2023, in Athens, during the 5th High Level Cooperation Council meeting. The two countries are committed to further promoting bilateral relations and broadening areas of cooperation.
–Türkiye and Greece reaffirmed their commitment to improving effective communication channels and mechanisms at all levels, as well as eliminating unwarranted sources of tension in order to avoid potential escalation and risks for the successful management of their bilateral relations.
– Both sides reiterated that extended bilateral cooperation, in full respect of international law including the UN Charter, will further enhance regional peace, stability and prosperity and will stimulate the economic growth of the region.
-In light of the increase in their bilateral trade volume and economic cooperation, the two countries agreed to further strengthen their commercial ties and reach the target of 10 billion USD in bilateral trade volume until the end of the decade. To this end they committed to intensifying engagement between their respective business communities, with particular emphasis on the activities of the Greece–Türkiye Joint Business Council, as well as other relevant business associations and the investment promotion agencies of both countries.
-Türkiye and Greece welcomed the continuation of the temporary scheme of short-stay Schengen visas aiming at facilitating tourist visits of Turkish nationals to twelve Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.
-Türkiye and Greece confirmed that in addition to the existing bilateral cooperation in combating irregular migration, the trilateral cooperation mechanism, which also includes Bulgaria, has yielded positive results. The two countries stressed the importance of continuing and further enhancing cooperation in this area.
-Both sides underlined the importance and the necessity of developing international cooperation in combating terrorism and organized crime.
-Both countries expressed their determination to evaluate existing cooperation opportunities in the field of energy -particularly in electricity interconnection and renewable energy- with the aim of strengthening regional stability.
-The two sides agreed to continue their cooperation on the modernization of critical cross-border road and railway corridors. These projects substantially enhance the safety, reliability, and capacity of both passenger and freight transport, while at the same time creating the technical and operational conditions for stronger connectivity between Türkiye and Greece, as well as with the wider Balkan region and Southeast Europe, and regional resilience of supply chains. In this respect the two sides reviewed progress on the project of constructing a second cross border bridge in Kipi- Ipsala, following the 2006 Agreement. The comprehensive and effective connection of the Trans-European Transport Network with Türkiye’s road and railway transport network is recognized as critical for ensuring smooth traffic flows, system interoperability, and the further strengthening of cross-border cooperation.
-Türkiye and Greece reiterated the growing importance of emerging technologies, including AI and digitalization, in the economic and strategic domain. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in science, technology, research and innovation, through the implementation of a bilateral cooperation programme on science and technology.
-Türkiye and Greece agreed to deepen cooperation on sustainable water management in the Meriç/Evros River Basin, strengthening resilience to climate change impacts. In this context, the two countries have decided to reactivate the ad hoc Joint Committee established under the Joint Declaration of the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change of the Hellenic Republic and the Minister for Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, signed in Athens, on 14 May 2010, with the aim of ensuring the protection and sustainable use of Meriç/Evros River. The two sides have also expressed their joint commitment to addressing the impacts of floods in the Meriç/Evros River Basin also in the collaboration with the other riparian country.
-Türkiye and Greece reaffirmed their commitment to working constructively within NATO as two Allies, including in the run-up to the Ankara Summit to be held on 7-8 July 2026 in Türkiye.
– The two sides exchanged views on Türkiye-EU relations.
-The two countries agreed to expand their cooperation in international organizations, and, to the extent possible, to support each other’s candidatures in international platforms.
-The two Leaders had also a comprehensive exchange of views on bilateral issues, regional and international developments. They agreed to keep the momentum in their Political Dialogue, Positive Agenda/Joint Action Plan and Confidence Building Measures discussions.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Kyriakos Mitsotakis
President of the Republic of Türkiye Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic
