20/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - EU congratulates Erdogan on his election. On 11 August, the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, congratulated former Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his election as President of the Republic of Turkey. “Turkey is a key partner for the European Union: a candidate country negotiating EU accession, a neighbour, an important trade partner and a foreign policy ally”, they stressed in a joint press release, in which they add that they “look forward” to enhancing cooperation in all these areas. They expressed their hopes that Erdogan will maintain the conciliatory role his new position involves and strive to encompass all communities, beliefs, sensitivities, opinions and lifestyles of the Turkish society. The two presidents also look forward to Erdogan's continuing support to the current political processes aiming to reach a settlement on the Kurdish and Cypriot issues. (CG)