FM Hakan Fidan attends EU informal meeting, holds bilateral talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan participated in the European Union (EU) Foreign Ministers’ Informal Meeting on Thursday, engaging in a series of bilateral discussions with his counterparts from several EU member states.

The meeting, held at the European Council in Brussels, focused on Türkiye-EU relations and various regional issues, according to sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The discussions lasted for approximately two hours.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Fidan met separately with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, and Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib.

Fidan’s engagements with Gerapetritis and Albares were highlighted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on the social media platform X.

The one-day visit to Brussels marked Türkiye’s involvement in the EU’s informal foreign policy meeting, a participation welcomed by European ministers. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze emphasized the importance of maintaining a “constructive and open relationship” with Türkiye, noting its role as a NATO ally and its mediation efforts, including the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russian captivity.

Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu described Türkiye as a “key partner” for the EU, particularly in areas such as security, energy, and migration. She stressed the need for “mutually beneficial relations” between Türkiye and the EU, advocating for a “constructive and positive agenda.”

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, who met with Fidan, underscored the significance of Türkiye’s presence at the informal meeting, noting it was the first such participation in five years. “At the meeting, we will have the opportunity to discuss Turkish-EU relations,” Gerapetritis said.

Finnish Foreign Minister Eline Valtonen expressed her satisfaction with the opportunity to engage with Fidan over lunch, saying, “I am so happy that we also have an opportunity to have lunch and discuss topical issues and cooperation with colleague from Türkiye, Mr. Hakan Fidan.”