Turkey Seeks to Mend Ties with EU at Brussels Meeting

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan aims to improve Ankara's relations with the European Union during a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels, marking the first such attendance in five years. The EU has frozen Turkey's bid to join due to human rights concerns and policy disputes. High-level talks have resumed since 2021.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan aims to improve Ankara's relations with the European Union as he attends a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels, the first in five years, according to a ministry source.

Turkey's two-decade-long bid to join the EU has stalled due to concerns over human rights and policy disputes in the Mediterranean and Cyprus. However, the EU depends on NATO member Turkey for migration issues, and high-level talks have resumed since 2021 despite past tensions.

Fidan views the EU's invitation as an opportunity for dialogue and will discuss visas and modernising the EU-Turkey Customs Union, which Ankara has been pushing for months. He will also meet EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the bloc's enlargement commissioner, and other counterparts with topics including Ukraine and Middle Eastern tensions on the agenda.

The visit comes amid Ankara's criticism of Western allies over their support for Israel in the Gaza conflict with Hamas.

(With inputs from agencies.)