05/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - Tusk and Erdogan want to strengthen EU-Turkey relations. European Council President Donald Tusk and Turkey's President Tayyip Recep Erdogan spoke on the phone on 23 December and discussed ways to strengthen relations between the EU and Turkey - “a common priority”. According to the European Council's press release, Tusk hailed the strategy adopted by Ankara on the EU, hoping that progress could be made in 2015. Tusk and Erdogan spoke about developments in Turkey, “including the recent detentions and importance of an impartial and transparent process in this regard”. Tusk commended Erdogan's efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Kurdish issue. He also stated the EU's continuing intention to help Turkey in hosting 1.5 million Syrian refugees. “We agreed to stay in close contact and both look forward to meeting at the earliest possible opportunity”, Tusk added. (CG)