Brussels, 18/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - During their 53rd Association Council on Sunday 17 and Monday 18 May, the European Union and Turkey decided to strengthen their cooperation on foreign policy.
In a Council press release, the EU stated that “the very serious developments in the region - in particular in Syria and Iraq - render it crucial that dialogue and cooperation on foreign policy issues is increased”. “Cooperation on foreign and security policy is more important than ever”, Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.
The EU and Turkey thus agreed to ask their relevant departments to put together a plan in order to strengthen their cooperation with a view to implementing the conclusions of the extraordinary European Council on 23 April - which called for strengthened cooperation between the EU and Turkey on preventing illegal flows of migration. The EU encouraged Turkey to develop fully-fledged cooperation with Greece and Italy to prevent the illegal flows of migration in the Aegean Sea and in the Mediterranean, and to fight against the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings. The EU also wants to strengthen the capacity of its delegation in Ankara in order to work closely with Turkey on migration issues. In addition, the EU called for “full and effective” implementation by Turkey of the EU-Turkey readmission agreement.
Reiterating Turkey's “exceptional” humanitarian role in hosting nearly 2 million Syrians and Iraqis, the EU announced that €18 million from the pre-accession instrument would soon be made available to Turkey to provide aid for the supply of food and education.
Both parties agreed that their cooperation in fighting against the threat of terrorism could and should be stepped up, and they agreed that other concrete areas of cooperation should be identified swiftly. The EU highlighted judicial and police cooperation. It also proposed developing closer cooperation against Islamic State and its funding networks, and to stem the flow of foreign fighters. A large number of foreign fighters travel through Turkey to reach the conflict areas or return to the EU.
Possible opening of new negotiation chapter. The representatives from the EU and Turkey also held “specific discussions (…) on how to progress towards opening Chapter 17” of the accession negotiations, on economic and monetary policy. “I hope that the chapter will be opened as soon as possible” Turkey's European affairs minister Volkan Bozkir stated. “It should be possible to open Chapter 17 very quickly”, added European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. Hahn added that the internal work was finished and that the report would be submitted to the Council in May at the latest in early June. The EU also underlined the importance of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the importance of the fight against corruption.
Both parties decided to launch an economic dialogue. “This does not replace the accession negotiations process but complements it”, Bozkir stated.
The EU and Turkey hailed the resumption of talks for the reunification of Cyprus, and agreed to continue bringing their “full, firm and practical” support to the endeavours of United Nations special envoy Espen Barth Eide “to make real progress on this crucial issue in the weeks and months to come”. Ankara's commitment and contribution in terms of full settlement remain essential, the European side stated. “Turkey and the Turkish [Cypriot] part have strong resolve and determination and, if the Greek Cypriot part has the same resolve for compromise and a solution, we should reach a solution by the end of the year”, said Cavusoglu. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)