Hakan Fidan to Attend Gymnich Meeting in Brussels for the First Time

The Gymnich meetings, held twice a year, are informal sessions where EU foreign ministers discuss long-term strategic issues. Fidan's participation comes at a time when several unresolved matters continue to strain EU-Turkey relations, including the modernization of the Customs Union, the stalled EU accession negotiations, the Cyprus issue, and the difficulties Turkish citizens face in obtaining visas.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli stated that Fidan's presence at the meeting reflects Turkey's appreciation of the EU's outreach and hopes that it will pave the way for revisiting the restrictive decisions made by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on July 15, 2019.

Keçeli emphasized that this invitation indicates the EU's recognition of the need to strengthen relations with Turkey in the face of regional and global challenges. He also expressed the expectation that the positive momentum should extend beyond the Gymnich meetings.

Highlighting Ankara's priorities, Keçeli called for the revitalization of Turkey's EU accession process, the prompt initiation of negotiations to update the Customs Union, progress on visa liberalization, and the reactivation of high-level dialogues in key areas such as politics, economy, transportation, and energy. These steps, he noted, are essential for building sustainable and predictable cooperation between Turkey and the EU.

Source: AA