Turkey ‘key partner’ amid geopolitical tensions, EU chief says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described Turkey arsenic a “key partner” during a play of heightened geopolitical turbulence, pursuing a telephone speech connected Tuesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In a station connected the X platform, von der Leyen stressed that the European Union and Turkey stock communal interests, including the safeguarding of unfastened trade routes, vigor security, and the stability of planetary supply chains. 

She added that practice betwixt the two sides will proceed successful these areas, while expressing EU appreciation for Ankara’s efforts toward de-escalation and diplomatic engagement successful narration to the Iran crisis.

She besides noted that the treatment included the Eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus issue, with some sides underlining the value of EU-Turkey relations.

According to Kathimerini sources, the telephone took spot astatine the petition of the Turkish president, and focused chiefly connected the Middle East situation and Cyprus, with nary further issues raised.

The speech followed caller remarks by von der Leyen astatine an lawsuit marking the 80th day of German weekly paper Die Zeit successful Hamburg, which drew disapproval successful Ankara aft she referred to Turkey alongside Russia and China successful the discourse of EU enlargement. She had stated that “we indispensable succeed successful the completion of the European continent, so that it is not influenced by Russia, Turkey, oregon China.”

The European Commission aboriginal clarified done its spokesperson that the notation to Turkey reflected its geopolitical power and relation successful the Western Balkans, and was not intended arsenic a nonstop examination with different countries.

On the Cyprus issue, the Commission has yet to name a successor to Johannes Hahn arsenic EU special envoy, pursuing his resignation aft assuming the presidency of the wide assembly of an Austrian bank.