Senior European Union and Turkish officials expressed support for the ongoing efforts of the UN Secretary-General regarding the Cyprus issue, according to a joint statement issued on Tuesday night following high-level talks in Ankara.
The statement was issued by Kaja Kallas, Marta Kos, Magnus Brunner and Hakan Fidan.
Regional stability and EU-Turkey relations
The officials stressed the importance of regional stability and good neighbourly relations, while reaffirming their determination to take steps aimed at strengthening cooperation and enhancing mutually beneficial relations between the EU and Turkey.
They discussed EU-Turkey relations within the broader international context, recalling Turkey’s candidate country status and recognising the strategic importance of ties between Turkey and the EU in promoting regional stability and economic resilience amid a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.
Areas of cooperation discussed
According to the statement, discussions covered several areas of shared interest, including economic cooperation, trade, connectivity, migration, security and broader foreign policy challenges.
On Ukraine, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as efforts towards achieving a fair and lasting peace in line with international law.
Migration and economic ties
On migration, the participants recognised the current geopolitical climate and its possible impact on migration flows. They also expressed a determination to strengthen cooperation on border management and efforts to combat migrant smuggling.
The statement also highlighted discussions on the Customs Union and Turkey’s potential participation in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), which was described as potentially beneficial.
The EU side also underlined the importance of strengthening the rule of law, protecting fundamental rights and maintaining high democratic standards as part of the enlargement process.
Future dialogue planned
The participants agreed to meet again and organise future rounds of high-level dialogue before the end of the year, focusing on areas including the economy, trade, migration and security, health, science and innovation, and agriculture.
Also read: Cyprus EU Presidency declared as major success at closing eventCyprus issue
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