Despite sharp criticism from human rights defenders, the EU is sounding out a possible expansion of relations with Turkey. At a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara today, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel discussed, among other things, strengthening economic cooperation.
According to von der Leyens, it could include a modernization of the customs union and more intensive cooperation on future technologies in the field of environment and digital.
It is about a stronger cooperation that is profitable for both sides, she said. This also included cooperation in refugee and migration policy and the expansion of cooperation within the framework of the EU research program Horizon and the Erasmus exchange program.
EU wants to avoid further escalation
At the same time, von der Leyen emphasized that the EU would not hesitate to denounce negative developments in the future either. She and Michel have made it clear that respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law are of vital importance to the EU and that Turkey must comply with international human rights rules, she said. Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention for the Protection of Women is deeply worrying.
The background to the talks with Erdogan were resolutions of the EU summit one and a half weeks ago. The heads of state and government had agreed to gradually re-establish relations with Turkey. With this decision, the EU wants to avert the escalation of further conflicts.
