Turkey seeks EU support for Trkiye's membership

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joins lawmakers elected to the Grand National Assembly of T rkiye in the May 14 parliamentary elections and attend their first parliamentary session to take the oath in Ankara, T rkiye, Friday, June 2, 2023. On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted the necessity of promoting dialogue for Trkiye's integration to the European Union EU in a phone talk with Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, Turkish presidency, said in a statement.

It is necessary to increase contacts with all levels with a concrete and positive agenda in the direction of T rkiye's full membership to the EU, which has great strategic value for Europe, the statement said.

The EU's fair treatment and supportive perspective for T rkiye's full EU membership would open up new horizons in relations between Ankara and the block, the statement said.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has announced a major reshuffle in his cabinet.

The Turkish government emphasized the importance of update the customs union agreement between Ankara and Brussels, ensuring visa-free for Turkish citizens within the EU, and strengthening bilateral cooperation on migration management and counterterrorism.

T rkiye began accession talks with Brussels in 2005, which have been in a standstill for several years following a prolonged state of emergency declared by Erdoan in the wake of a botched coup aimed at toppleing his government in 2016.