European Union–Turkey relations

Turkey has said it will continue to work with the European Union on a positive agenda outlined by Brussels which includes the renewal of the migrant deal, upgrading the customs union and visa liberalization, as EU's top diplomat revealed a comprehensive report on ties with Turkey that suggests opening a path for improved cooperation in the mentioned areas but also imposing sanctions if Ankara c

Bucharest, March 22 /Agerpres/ - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, participated, on Monday, in the meeting of the heads of diplomacies in the EU member states, which took place in Brussels, among the discussed points being the developments in the EU-Russia relationship and the approach to the Western Balkans.

The European Union's preferred areas in lending the millions of Syrian refugees a helping hand will continue to be education and health, the EU's envoy to Turkey has said, as European leaders will discuss how to continue cooperation with Turkey at a summit on March 25 and 26.

The EU will engage in talks with Turkey on outstanding issues in the region, according to the EU's foreign policy chief.

"On the eastern Mediterranean, we will pursue dialogue with Turkey on outstanding issues," Josep Borrell said in his book, European Foreign Policy in Times of COVID-19.

The European Union should support Turkey for hosting more than four million refugees, the EU's foreign policy chief said on March 18. 

Josep Borrell made the remarks after visiting the command center of Operation Irini, the EU initiative to implement a UN arms embargo on Libya.

Seeking to build on renewed momentum for better ties, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 19 met with top EU officials.

Via videoconference, Erdoğan spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council head Charles Michel.

The European Union has frozen plans to blacklist more senior executives at Turkey's state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), four diplomats said, in the clearest sign that a diplomatic offensive by Ankara this year is bearing fruit.

The European Union should "act sincerely and strategically and not repeat its previous mistakes" to make progress in EU-Turkey ties, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on March 16.

The European Union will seek the renewal of the 2016 migration deal with Turkey, the EU foreign policy chief said on March 15. 

The Turkish presidential spokesman on March 11 discussed Turkey-EU relations in a meeting with the bloc's officials.