Turkey, EU to hold high-level meeting next week

By Sena Guler

ANKARA

A high-level meeting between Turkey and the EU will be held on Nov. 22 in the capital Ankara, the country’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"During the meetings between the Turkish delegation [...] and the EU side [...] the main issues in our relations with the EU, namely our accession process, as well as the economy, trade, financial cooperation, energy, Customs Union, fight against terrorism, security issues, migration and visa liberalization will be discussed," the ministry said in a statement.

Turkey applied for membership in the European Economic Community (a precursor to the EU) in 1987. It became eligible for EU membership in 1997 and accession talks began in 2005.

The Turkish delegation will include the Directorate for EU Affairs, which will be led by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the statement said.

The EU side will be represented by Federica Mogherini, the bloc's foreign policy chief; and Johannes Hahn, EU commissioner for European neighborhood policy and enlargement negotiations, it added.

"At the meeting, an exchange of views on the Balkans, Syria, Iraq, the Middle East Peace Process as well as other regional and international issues will also take place," the ministry said.

Earlier, speaking at a conference in Turkey's northern Samsun province, head of the EU delegation to Turkey Ambassador Christian Berger also mentioned about the upcoming meeting.

Berger said a political dialogue between the two sides will be initiated, following the meeting.

He said meetings on transportation, energy economy will be held after the beginning of the political dialogue.

He added they also expect a presidential-level meeting next year during Romanian presidency of the EU Council.

*Ilyas Gun in Samsun contributed to the story.