23/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - EU congratulates Binali Yildrim on his nomination to the post of Prime Minister. On Sunday evening 22 May, the EU High Representative Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, congratulated Binali Yildrim on his nomination, earlier in the day, to the post of Turkish Prime Minister. The two EU officials explained that the "nomination … comes at an important moment not only for Turkey, but also for the EU-Turkey relationship". They also stated "We look forward to continuing to work together on common regional and international challenges, and to further implement all aspects of our joint partnership" as agreed at the first EU-Turkey summit on 29 November and in the EU-Turkey Statement from 18 March (see EUROPE 11515). On Sunday 22 May, the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appointed one of his loyal allies, Binali Yildrim (the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), during a party congress). The latter was then requested to form a government to replace that of Ahmet Davutoglu, who had just resigned. (CG)