Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is in Brussels for the first time in five years, attending a meeting of EU ministers. This visit signals Turkey’s hope to mend its fractured relationship with the European Union. Ankara’s two-decade-long bid to join the EU has been stalled due to concerns over Turkey’s human rights record, along with policy disagreements in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus issue.
Despite these challenges, the EU relies on Turkey’s support, particularly on migration matters. Tensions escalated in 2019, leading to threats of sanctions and the suspension of dialogue channels. However, relations have shown signs of improvement since 2021 with high-level talks resuming.
Minister Fidan will convey Turkey’s expectation that the EU demonstrates concrete commitment and takes tangible steps to strengthen ties. The meeting agenda includes discussions on visa liberalization and modernizing the EU-Turkey Customs Union – issues Turkey has been pushing for months.
Fidan will engage with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhely. He will also reiterate Turkey’s stance on the Cyprus issue, advocating for a two-state solution. The EU, Greece, and the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot administration reject this proposal.
Ahead of the meetings, Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos expressed his anticipation for open discussions with Ankara on contentious issues, aiming to find a way forward. Greece’s Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis emphasized the importance of restarting dialogue on Cyprus within the framework of UN Security Council resolutions, leveraging the recent positive developments in Turkish-Greek relations. While supporting Turkey’s European aspirations, Greece stressed the need to respect the sovereignty of all member states and the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy.
