EU and Turkish officials meet in Ankara to discuss strategic cooperation

On June 30, 2026, a high-level EU delegation consisting of Kaja Kallas, Marta Kos, and Magnus Brunner visited Ankara to hold talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The discussions took place ahead of the upcoming NATO leaders' summit in July. Both sides issued a joint statement affirming their support for the UN Secretary-General’s initiative regarding the Cyprus issue. Participants reviewed EU-Turkey relations, emphasizing the strategic importance of cooperation in trade, security, migration, and connectivity. They reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while expressing a joint desire to combat migrant smuggling and improve border management. While Turkey holds candidate status, officials noted that the formal accession process remains largely frozen. The meetings aimed to foster practical collaboration despite ongoing challenges and differing positions on regional issues.