AiBotIn a bid to de-escalate rising tensions between the European Union and Turkey, three senior EU commissioners – Kadri Simson, Virginijus Sinkevicius, and Johannes Hahn – were mistakenly initially reported as meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday in Istanbul. However, the actual Commissioners attending the meeting were Estonian Prime Minister and European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi’s deputy, and Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, as well as Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, did not attend.
It now appears that the actual meeting involved Vice President Kaja Kallas, Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides’ Deputy, and Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi’s deputy. They met with Erdogan to discuss several pressing issues that have strained relations between the two sides in recent months, including human rights concerns, migration policies, and tensions over the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to sources close to the EU delegation, Vice President Kallas expressed her concern about the deterioration of the rule of law in Turkey, as well as the erosion of democratic institutions and the rise of authoritarian tendencies. Erdogan reportedly responded by emphasizing Turkey’s commitment to EU norms and values, but also reiterating his country’s right to pursue its own national interests.
Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, and her deputy, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, however, were not listed among the attendees, with Environment Oceans and Fisheries not being at the meeting which is surprising given the recent tension between them.
Regarding migration policies, the EU envoys emphasized the need for increased cooperation on issues such as refugee resettlement and border management. Erdogan, however, stuck to his hardline stance, emphasizing that his country would not accept any quotas on refugee intake.
The meeting also touched upon the contentious issue of gas drilling operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, where both sides have competing claims. The EU envoys urged restraint and called for a peaceful resolution to the dispute, while Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s right to explore for natural resources in its EEZ.
While the meeting was said to be productive, with both sides reportedly expressing a desire to continue dialogue, several key issues remain unresolved. As tensions between the EU and Turkey continue to simmer, the international community will be watching closely for any signs of progress or further escalation. The EU has also expressed its concern about the Turkish president’s decision to send a seismic research vessel to the Mediterranean.