European Council

Turkey should maintain its "cautious optimism" toward the European Union, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has said amid hints from the government that it will attempt to break the ice with the EU.

Turkey "wants to leave tension with the European Union behind," but the focus of dialogue with the bloc should be on the axis of opening new accession chapters, government spokesperson and Deputy PM Numan Kurtulmuş has stated. 

Turkey and European Union will focus on upgrading Customs Union and the migrant deal, according to an agreed 12-month road map on the bilateral ties, with the first gathering to be held on June 13 for political dialogue meeting at the level of political directors which will study course of relations, Hürriyet writes.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's recent visit to Brussels was positive because both Turkey and the EU decided to maintain dialogue, said retired ambassador Ünal Çeviköz. 

Turkey and the European Union are set to focus on upgrading the Customs Union agreement and a migrant deal, according to an agreed 12-month road map on bilateral ties, with the first gathering to be held on June 13.

BRUSSELS - All those present at Wednesday's informal dinner hosted in Brussels by EU foreign policy and security chief Federica Mogherini for Western Balkan PMs "confirmed their full commitment to continue working for the European Union integration process, as confirmed by the EU at the March 2017 European Council," said a statement on Mogherini's official website.

The nightmare scenario did not happen. The ties between Turkey and the European Union were not severed as a result of President Tayyip Erdoğan's discussions in Brussels on May 25 at the NATO summit there.

NATO will join the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levnat (ISIL), alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said on May , before a summit with President Donald Trump.

"This will send a strong political message of NATO's commitment to the fight against terrorism," Stoltenberg said.

Asmiling Donald Trump offered European Union chiefs assurances on security in Brussels on May 25 but EU officials did not conceal lingering differences with the U.S. president over Russia, trade and climate change.

Screenshot Tanjug video

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini's informal dinner with prime ministers of the Western Balkan Six was held in Brussels late on Wednesday.