site.btaErdogan Calls for Stronger Turkiye-EU Ties

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spoken by phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Turkiye to successfully tackle regional challenges, Turkish media report.

During the weekend phone call, Erdogan stressed the importance of fair treatment and Brussels' support for Turkiye's prospect of full EU membership.

Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Erdogan on his victory in Turkiye's presidential elections.

Von der Leyen wrote on her Twitter account that she and Erdogan had agreed to work on strengthening EU-Turkiye cooperation. The leaders also discussed international challenges, including the war in Ukraine.

Negotiations between Ankara and Brussels on Turkiye's accession to the EU began in 2005, but the process was frozen because Brussels said the applicant country did not meet the membership criteria. Turkiye says this is a "political decision" and calls on the EU to adopt a "more adequate and fair approach towards Ankara".

In 2016, the EU announced it would not open new chapters in membership talks with Turkiye over concerns about measures taken by Ankara following the coup attempt.