Peter Stano: Informal summit EU FMs' “first opportunity” to discuss with Turkish counterpart Fidan

The participation of Turkish FM Hakan Fidan in the informal summit of the EU Foreign Ministers that will be held in Brussels on 29 August, will be the “first opportunity” for the FMs to discuss EU - Turkey relations with the Turkish Minister, said Peter Stano, EEAS and Commission spokesperson. 

Responding to a question by the Cyprus News Agency, Stano also stressed that relations with Cyprus is an important part of EU - Turkey relations, and that the discussion with Turkey is expected to cover a series of issues where interests “either converge or overlap”.

Stano pointed out that discussions will be carried out on the basis of premises and positions that the EU has very clearly formulated, and underlined that when it comes to wider EU - Turkey relations “we are very much keen to hear from the Turkish counterpart how they intend to move forward in order to find constructive solutions.”

“This will be the first opportunity for the Foreign Ministers of the 27 member states together to discuss with the relatively new Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr Fidan, all the issues that are important for the European Union”, Stano said during the Commission’s midday briefing of the press.

“These issues include EU - Turkey relations” he said, noting that “a very important part of this bloc of EU - Turkey relations are, of course, the issue of Cyprus and how Cyprus is being treated by Turkey”, as well as “regional cooperation and the global geopolitical cooperation with Turkey on a number of issues where our interest either converge or overlap.”

Stano underlined that this is an informal meeting during which “they will see where we stand, where Turkey stands, how we want to approach issues of mutual interest.”

The “Cyprus issue is very important” he continued, pointing out for “there is not much new to say.”

“The position of the European Union has been very clearly formulated, recalled for the last time in the European Council conclusions in April and in the strategy that we suggested together, the EEAS or the High Representative, together with the Commission for shaping the relationship between Turkey and EU in the upcoming period” Stano pointed out.

“This is all being done based on premises which have been clearly defined, on the policies and positions of the EU” he added, repeating that the issue of Cyprus “forms a very important part of our relationship and cooperation with Turkey.”

“So these will be the areas which we intend to discuss and then we are, of course, very much keen to hear from the Turkish counterpart how they intend to move forward in order to find constructive solutions and moving us constructively forward” he added.

(Source: CNA)