Von der Leyen says EU seeks to strengthen strategic partnership with Türkiye UPDATED

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union intends to strengthen its strategic partnership with Türkiye following her meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara.

Thank you, President @RTErdogan, for the warm welcome to Ankara.

The EU and Türkiye are strategic partners, and we are committed to strengthening our relationship.

In a more challenging world, our partnership matters more than ever.

Türkiye has been an important partner in… pic.twitter.com/gbFpMGgvkM

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 9, 2026

“The EU and Türkiye are strategic partners, and we are committed to strengthening our relationship. In a more challenging world, our partnership matters more than ever.

Türkiye has been an important partner in addressing the crises in the Middle East and supporting efforts for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

We must also seize the renewed momentum to advance a settlement of the Cyprus issue through the UN-led process,” von der Leyen wrote on her X account.

09:57

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held talks with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, calling for faster progress on Türkiye’s European Union membership bid.

During the meetings, the parties discussed Türkiye-EU relations as well as regional and international developments, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

Erdoğan said Ankara expects the accession process to be accelerated, relevant mechanisms to be activated, and necessary meetings to be convened.

The leaders also exchanged views on a range of current issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, tensions between the United States and Iran, and the situations in Gaza and Lebanon.

By Jeyhun Aghazada