Ursula von der Leyen (L) and Charles Michel give a presser at the end of a video conference meeting of the members of the European Council in Brussels, on January 21, 2021. (Olivier Hoslet/Pool/AFP)
EU presidents to meet Erdogan in Turkey on April 6, spokesperson says
The presidents of the European Council and the European Commission will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey on April 6, an EU spokesperson said on Monday, in the latest sign of improving ties.
The EU did not give further details of the trip by Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen. But the visit is part of a relaunch of relations approved by EU leaders last week after Turkey moved to calm a dispute over hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey, an EU candidate country, has not held a formal summit with EU leaders since May 2018, when Erdogan met the previous Council and Commission chiefs, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker.
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Despite Turkey’s decision to withdraw from a convention protecting women from violence and a deterioration in human rights, the EU says it is willing to work toward expanding trade.
Both sides also aim to agree billions of euros in fresh EU support for Syrian refugees in Turkey.
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