EU leaders to meet President Erdogan in Ankara regarding Cyprus and bilateral ties

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday, July 9. The meeting is taking place on the sidelines of a NATO summit, which starts on July 7 with the participation of 32 member states. The primary focus of the summit includes NATO defense investments, burden-sharing, and support for Ukraine. During their meeting, the EU officials and the Turkish President will discuss EU-Turkey relations and diplomatic efforts led by the UN Secretary-General to resolve the Cyprus issue. The talks aim to address the implementation of the November 2023 report on political, economic, and trade ties. Both parties acknowledge their status as strategic partners based on the 1963 Ankara Agreement. While EU representatives seek progress on Cyprus, sources note the necessity of dialogue given the current geopolitical climate.