Turkish FM Cavusoglu to visit Brussels for talks with EU, NATO

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is set to pay a two-day visit in Brussels on Wednesday, to hold meetings with EU officials and with NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Cavusoglu will meet with the bloc’s top diplomat, Josep Borell and the heads of the EU institutions, as well as with the Commissioners for Enlargement and Migration and with several Belgian officials including former PM and current FM Sophie Wilmes.

“During the talks in Brussels, all aspects of Turkey-EU relations, Turkey’s accession process, current regional and international issues are expected to be discussed. Turkey’s expectations for progress in Turkey-EU relations through a positive agenda will be conveyed,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Cavusoglu’s visit will come a few days after Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas travelled to Ankara, following recent “positive signals” by Turkey in de-escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

“Now it’s time to get out of last year’s difficult discussions,” the German FM said after the meeting according to the German news agency DPA, adding that he would “like very, very much, that the relations between the EU and Turkey get better, deepened, all possibilities and potentials are used.”