Alwaght-European Union foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini addresses a news conference after meeting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (unseen) at the European External Action Service (EEAS) building in Brussels, November 4, 2014, Reuters's Francois Lenoir reports.
European Union foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini addresses a news conference after meeting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (unseen) at the European External Action Service (EEAS) building in Brussels November 4, 2014.
The European Union will press Turkey to cooperate more closely in the fight against ISIS terrorist group and urge it not to undermine EU sanctions on Russia on a visit this week intended to give new impetus to often fraught EU-Turkish relations.
EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini, Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides will travel to Turkey on Monday and Tuesday in one of the highest-profile EU visits in years.
"The visit ... is a strong indication of the strategic importance of the EU-Turkey relationship and our desire to step up engagement," Mogherini said in a statement.
Turkey has been negotiating to join the EU since 2005, but political obstacles, notably over the divided island of Cyprus, and resistance to Turkish membership from some EU countries, have slowed progress and relations have often been difficult.
But, now top EU officials hope a new president and prime minister in Turkey and a new European Commission in Brussels mark a fresh start that will pave the way for regular high-level talks to discuss common strategic interests.
