EU-Türkiye Relations in Focus as FM Hosts Kaja Kallas

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Ankara on Friday, marking her first official visit to Türkiye since assuming office in December 2024.

 

Ahead of the meeting, Kallas expressed optimism on X, stating: “Glad to be in Ankara today. I am looking forward to meaningful discussions with political leaders and civil society to strengthen our ties.”

While the specifics of the meeting remain undisclosed, key topics likely included Türkiye-EU relations, regional security, energy cooperation, migration, and developments in conflict zones such as Ukraine, Gaza, and Syria.

Reviving EU Accession Talks

Fidan was expected to emphasize Türkiye’s longstanding goal of EU membership, underscoring the importance of reinvigorating the stalled accession process. Despite fulfilling much of the required criteria, Türkiye’s bid for EU membership has been frozen since 2016 due to political disputes, which Ankara attributes to the EU’s “politicized approach.”

Discussions may have touched on proposals to modernize the Customs Union, enhance migration cooperation through equitable burden-sharing, and finalize visa liberalization efforts. Fidan likely highlighted the need for the EU to take decisive steps against terrorism and reiterated Türkiye’s readiness to collaborate on Syria’s reconstruction.

Regional Cooperation

The meeting also aimed to address regional challenges, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the reconstruction of Syria. Türkiye has been advocating for the lifting of Western sanctions to facilitate Syria’s recovery and proposed joint initiatives to ensure the voluntary return of over 3 million Syrian refugees currently residing in Türkiye.

Strengthening Economic and Trade Ties

Türkiye and the EU have seen renewed momentum in their relations, with significant milestones achieved in 2024, such as the inaugural Türkiye-EU High-Level Trade Dialogue in July and Türkiye’s participation in the EU foreign ministers’ informal meeting in August. These developments were further reinforced by high-profile visits, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Türkiye in December.

During Friday’s meeting, both sides were expected to explore ways to deepen economic cooperation and advance high-level dialogues, emphasizing mutual interests in trade, migration, and regional security.

Looking Ahead

With positive strides in Türkiye-EU relations, the meeting between Fidan and Kallas highlights a shared willingness to overcome longstanding hurdles and foster collaboration. The discussions could pave the way for renewed dialogue on Türkiye’s EU accession and stronger cooperation in addressing critical regional and global challenges.