Türkiye to host senior EU delegation for high-level talks

Türkiye is set to host a high-level European Union delegation on June 30, including the bloc's top diplomat, just days ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.

The delegation will include EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and Commissioner for Internal Affairs Magnus Brunner, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

During their visit, the officials are expected to hold meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.

The discussions are expected to serve as an informal high-level political dialogue and could have an even greater impact than previous meetings of this kind.

A broad range of issues is expected to be on the agenda, including developments in the Middle East and Ukraine, regional connectivity, EU enlargement, migration and visa liberalisation.

The visit is being viewed as a significant step in strengthening cooperation between the EU and Türkiye, which Brussels increasingly considers an important partner across several policy areas. Ankara also places considerable value on maintaining close engagement with the bloc.

Despite disagreements sparked by the European Parliament's latest report on Türkiye, the EU has recently adopted a broader approach toward its relationship with Ankara. Amid a changing geopolitical landscape, Brussels has increasingly recognised the importance of working with Türkiye on shared challenges while expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Although Türkiye's EU accession negotiations—focused on issues such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law—have effectively stalled, the bloc continues to pursue alternative forms of engagement to preserve relations and prevent further deterioration.

For its part, Türkiye regards its ties with the EU as strategically significant and continues to advocate for a constructive partnership built on common interests.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov