The meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Ankara once again raised the topic of long-standing tensions and the frozen process of Turkey's accession to the EU. The leaders demonstrated readiness to restore dialogue, Kazinform's own correspondent reports.
Turkey's course towards rapprochement with the European Union
Erdogan spoke about the need for “tangible and rapid“ improvement of relations between Turkey and the European Union. The Turkish leader emphasized that strengthening institutional ties can be built on a “win-win formula for cooperation“, which will benefit both countries.
Among the priority areas of partnership, Erdogan noted cooperation on migration policy. Turkey has been a key player in the Syrian refugee crisis for many years, and the European Union recognizes the importance of Ankara's role in this regard.
Support for Syrian refugees
During the meeting, Ursula von der Leyen announced a new aid package for Turkey worth EUR 1 billion. The funds will be used to support millions of Syrian refugees living in Turkey.
"The European Union has always supported Turkey in its work with refugees. Over the past 12 years, we have allocated almost EUR 10 billion for these purposes. Turkey, which hosts around 3.2 million Syrians, remains the largest refugee center in the region," von der Leyen said.
The long road to European integration
The relationship between Turkey and the EU is a long-term story with a series of ups and downs. A candidate for EU membership since 1999, Turkey has faced a freeze in negotiations since 2018. The reason is the EU's concern about the Turkish side's retreat from democratic values, freedom of speech and the rule of law.
However, the recent meeting in Ankara showed that both sides are ready for rapprochement, especially in the context of a joint humanitarian mission related to Syria. Türkiye needs the EU's support in the migration crisis, while the EU sees Ankara as a strategic partner in resolving a number of regional problems.
Political compromise or temporary measures?
Experts point out that the desire of Turkey and the EU to establish a dialogue is explained by mutual interests, but the question of Turkey's integration into the European Union remains open. Returning to full talks requires Ankara to meet a number of conditions, including reforms in the field of human rights and democratization.
In a conversation with the head of the European Commission, Erdogan called on EU leaders to remove "all restrictions" in bilateral relations and resume high-level political dialogue, which was suspended earlier. He also stressed the need to expand the customs union agreement, work on which has been ongoing since 2016.
“Our common interests should not depend on the restrictive programs of some members,” Erdogan said, alluding to Greece and Cyprus, with which Turkey has long-standing disagreements.
Some observers emphasize that Turkey is now in an advantageous position. It has played a key role in the Syrian conflict, supporting the Syrian opposition group that toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Several high-ranking politicians have visited Ankara in recent days, including Ursula von der Leyen, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The visits demonstrate Turkey's important role as a regional player and partner to the West.
Meanwhile, ahead of a summit of EU leaders on Thursday, Erdogan's statements demonstrate Ankara's desire to intensify dialogue with the European Union and achieve stronger economic and political cooperation.
Could the Ankara meeting become the starting point for a new phase in Turkey-EU relations? For now, this question remains unanswered, but the general desire for interaction inspires cautious optimism.
The news was published on the basis of an information exchange agreement between Fakti.bg and Kazinform