Ankara: The Cyprus issue will be among the key topics on the agenda when European Council President Ant³nio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday, alongside broader discussions on EU-Trkiye relations and regional developments.
According to Cyprus News Agency, a press release issued by European Council, Costa will travel to Ankara on 7-8 July. On Tuesday, he will attend the leaders' dinner at the NATO Summit, before joining von der Leyen for talks with Erdogan on Wednesday.
The three leaders are expected to exchange views on regional developments, with particular emphasis on the ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to achieve a settlement of the Cyprus issue, it is noted.
The meeting will primarily focus on bilateral EU-Turkey relations, against the backdrop of an increasingly complex geopolitical environment that has underscored the need for enhanced dialogue and cooperation based on shared interests and pragmatic engagement, the press release said.
The two sides are also expected to review progress in implementing the Joint Communication adopted in November 2023 by the European Commission and the High Representative, which sets out a roadmap for advancing political, economic, and trade relations between the EU and Trkiye.
The European Council press release noted that the EU and Trkiye are "strategic partners," with their relationship anchored in the 1963 Association Agreement, also known as the Ankara Agreement. It also said that the EU remains Trkiye's largest trading partner. In 2022, bilateral trade reached pound 198.1 billion, accounting for 3.6% of the European Union's total trade with the rest of the world.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.