From 22 to 24 May, the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, will be in Ankara to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation with Türkiye. This mission follows the strategic debate on EU-Türkiye relations held by the European Council in April and is the fourth official visit by a member of the European Commission to the country in the last month, demonstrating the importance the EU places in its partnership with Türkiye.

During his visit, Commissioner Várhelyi will meet senior government officials to discuss how to advance on the recommendations of the November 2023 Joint Communication on EU-Türkiye relations, following the conclusion of the Extraordinary European Council meeting on 17 and 18 April. He will meet Cevdet Yılmaz, Vice President of Türkiye; Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ali Yerlikaya, Minister of the Interior;p Mehmet Şimsek, Minister of Treasury and Finance; and Ömer Bolat, Minister of Trade.

The Commissioner will hold a press conference with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, on Thursday 23 May at around 13:30 (CEST), following his meeting, which will be broadcast on EbS.

Further information on the EU's relations with and support for Türkiye is available in this factsheet.

(For more information: Ana Pisonero - Tel: +32 229-54320; Zoi Muletier - Tel: +32 229-94306)