Three European commissioners met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Tuesday, signaling a renewed push by Brussels to deepen cooperation with a key NATO ally and EU candidate country. The high-level delegation—EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos—held what EU officials described as a "jumbo meeting" with Erdoğan and later with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
"Türkiye is a key partner on security, migration, and energy, as well as an EU candidate country," Kallas wrote on X after the talks, noting Ankara's role in protecting NATO's eastern flank. The visit took place just a week before a critical NATO summit in Ankara, but the agenda remained firmly focused on bilateral EU-Turkey relations—a format that has been in place since accession negotiations formally opened in 2005 but have since stalled.
Foreign Policy and Regional Security
Discussions ranged widely across foreign policy, with both sides seeking common ground on the Middle East, including Iran, Syria, and Gaza, as well as Africa and the South Caucasus. A joint statement issued after the meeting underscored a shared commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order.
Turkey's potential role in a future EU mission in Lebanon was also on the table. With the mandate for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon expiring this year, regional powers are considering how to fill the gap. The talks also touched on enhanced security cooperation between Turkey and Ukraine, which EU officials welcome, and Black Sea security, where Romania and Bulgaria are proposing a new Black Sea Maritime Security Hub.
The joint communique expressed support for peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus, following last year's historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to visit both countries this week, with energy security and connectivity high on the agenda. Von der Leyen Heads to Baku and Yerevan to Deepen EU Ties in South Caucasus.
Connectivity and Economic Cooperation
Brussels has prioritized development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor—an alternative connection between Europe and Central Asia that bypasses Russia via Turkey and the South Caucasus. "The world around us is really changing very quickly," Kos said at a closing event for the Strengthening Intermodal Transport Services project. "Trade routes that once appeared secure can no longer be taken for granted. Competition between global powers is growing. Businesses are looking for more reliable supply chains."
Kos also met Turkey's finance, transport, and trade ministers, with talks covering modernization of Turkey's access to the EU customs union, currently based on a 1995 agreement that still carries several exceptions. The joint statement stressed the importance of an inclusive, reciprocal approach to industrial policy—an indirect reference to the Industrial Accelerator Act, the EU's flagship legislative push for competitiveness that could shut non-EU companies out of public procurement.
The communique also welcomed Turkey's participation in the Single European Payments Area, the EU's initiative to harmonize cashless payments, and the gradual resumption of the European Investment Bank's operations in the country.
Migration and Visa Liberalization
Other topics included Schengen visa liberalization for Turkish citizens, circumvention of Russia sanctions, and implementation of the readmission agreement covering citizens residing illegally in each other's territory. The joint statement pointed to closer cooperation on border management and combating migrant smuggling. "We work together with Turkey to prevent illegal migration, while creating more mobility opportunities and enabling people-to-people contacts," Commissioner Brunner wrote on X.
Remaining Frictions
Despite the geopolitical context making rapprochement easier for both sides, significant differences remain. The talks took place after von der Leyen, speaking at a conference marking Die Zeit's 80th anniversary in Germany, referenced Turkey alongside Russia and China as foreign powers seeking to influence Europe. The comparison drew a sharp response from Ankara, given Turkey's status as both an EU candidate and a NATO member. EU officials noted that Erdoğan will have the chance to raise the issue directly with von der Leyen at next week's NATO summit.
The joint communique also voiced support for UN efforts on Cyprus, an EU member state whose territory has been partially occupied by Turkey for over 50 years. Human rights and the rule of law came up as well, with EU policymakers unsettled by Erdoğan's recent record—not least the arrest last year of Istanbul mayor and opposition presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. EU Commissioners Visit Turkey as NATO Summit Approaches, Relations Remain Fraught.
