EU must increase involvement with Türkiye, says foreign policy leader

Josep Borrell stresses importance of fostering closer ties while concurrently addressing the longstanding Cyprus issue

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell underscored the imperative for the EU to intensify its collaboration with Türkiye at a joint news conference in Brussels.

Speaking after an informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers and alongside Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, Borrell stressed the importance of fostering closer ties while concurrently addressing the longstanding Cyprus issue.

The foreign policy chief called for enhanced cooperation, emphasizing the need to sidestep confrontations and navigate the complexities associated with the Cyprus matter. 

During the conference held on Saturday, Borrell said: “I think that we have to call for closer cooperation between the EU and Türkiye, avoid confrontation, and increase cooperation.

For that, we have to reach out to Türkiye, taking into account the Cyprus issue.”

He further asserted that the key takeaway was the necessity for the EU to engage more actively with Türkiye, strategically working on areas of converging interests while mitigating potential sources of friction. 

Minister Lahbib, contributing to the discourse, announced that Türkiye, being a candidate country, would be invited to partake in commemorating the 20th anniversary of the EU’s most significant enlargement in its history.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, the ongoing dispute over the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, involving Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, continues to pose challenges to regional stability. 

Cyprus admitted to the EU in 2004, remains divided, with the Greek Cypriot administration and Turkish Cypriots at an impasse.

Türkiye, a guarantor country for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), staunchly supports a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and equal international status between the two states on the island. 

Türkiye, an official candidate for EU membership since 1987, initiated accession talks in 2005.

However, progress in these talks has been hampered, experiencing a virtual freeze because of political roadblocks imposed by certain EU members, reasons unrelated to Türkiye’s suitability for membership, as asserted by Ankara.

The intricate dynamics of the Cyprus dispute and the ensuing political hurdles within the EU continue to shape the landscape of Türkiye EU relations. 

Source: AA