While preparations for the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara next week continue at full speed, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye received the European Union (EU) delegation at the Presidential Complex on Tuesday. In addition to important topics regarding security and immigration, the discussion also focused on strengthening the relations between the EU and Türkiye.
Kaja Kallas, the European Commission Vice-President; Marta Kos, the Commissioner for Enlargement; and Magnus Brunner, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, attended the meeting. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan of Türkiye and other high-ranking officials were also present at the closed-door meeting.
Kaja Kallas emphasised that Türkiye is a key partner in the fields of security, migration, and energy and that it is also an EU candidate country. In her statement, she said: "It was good to speak with President Erdoğan today about further strengthening EU–Türkiye relations. Good neighbourly relations are of great importance for the stability of the region."
The meeting also addressed the war in Ukraine, ongoing armed conflicts in the Middle East, and preparations for the NATO Summit in Ankara. According to Kallas, Türkiye plays a significant role in the defence of NATO's eastern flank.
Marta Kos pointed out that close cooperation with Türkiye could provide many advantages, saying, "We want to increase trade and investment and strengthen the transport, energy, and digital links connecting Europe and Asia."
Magnus Brunner also said that security and migration issues play a key role in cooperation between the EU and Türkiye, adding, "We must work together against common challenges."
This meeting took place at a time when the geopolitical situation is rapidly changing, and international cooperation is indispensable for maintaining stability. Therefore, Türkiye's role for the EU will be of key importance in the future, not only strategically but also politically.