The European Union’s informal Foreign Affairs Council will convene in Brussels tomorrow to discuss EU-Turkey relations, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in attendance, EU officials said on Wednesday.
Peter Stano, Spokesperson for the High Representative and the European Commission, confirmed that the Cyprus issue would be an integral part of the discussions.
“Issues include relations between the EU and Turkey, and a very important part of this is of course the Cyprus problem, and how Cyprus is treated by Turkey,” Stano said, adding that any dialogue would be based on established EU positions.
The spokesperson indicated that the talks would cover areas where EU and Turkish interests “either converge or overlap,” including regional and global geopolitical cooperation.
Nicosia has expressed readiness for the Turkish Foreign Minister’s presence at the meeting. Diplomatic sources stated that Cyprus has prepared to convey its positions in line with European Council conclusions.
The informal council’s agenda is expected to include discussions on Russia’s war against Ukraine, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in attendance, as well as developments in the Middle East, the Gaza conflict, and recent political developments in Venezuela.
Stano clarified that the meeting is not a formal “Gymnich” gathering, but rather a simple informal meeting. As such, no formal decisions or conclusions are anticipated.
The meeting, originally slated for Budapest under the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, was relocated to Brussels following recent diplomatic moves by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
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