Turkish president receives top EU officials in Ankara

By Mehmet Tosun and Serife Cetin

ANKARA (AA) – Amid signs of improving ties between Turkey and the European Union, Turkey’s president on Tuesday received top EU officials paying an official visit to the country.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Charles Michel, head of the EU Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU Commission, at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara.

Following the nearly three-hour meeting, at a press conference at the EU Delegation to Turkey, Michel said: “The EU is ready to present a concrete agenda to strengthen cooperation on the economy and immigration, and inter-societal ties.”

He said the EU recognizes the strategic importance of mutually beneficial and positive relations with Turkey and security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Leyen said the visit is meant to give an impetus to Turkish-EU relations, adding that areas of mutually beneficial cooperation were covered during their meeting with Erdogan.

“We will deal with current hardships in implementation of the Customs Union and eventually work to update it,” she added, referring to a 1995 trade deal between Turkey and the bloc.

​​​​​​​* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk​​​​​​​