Turkey’s European integration and the Italian EU duty presidency’s priorities were the focus of Minister for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini’s meeting today in Rome with Turkish Minister for European Affairs Mevlüt Cavusoğlu. They also exchanged detailed information regarding a series of Middle East dossiers and, at bilateral level, in reference to EXPO Milano 2015 and the next intergovernmental summit.
As regards Europe, the head of Italian diplomacy underscored the need to advance Turkey’s integration, and reiterated Italy’s willingness to raise awareness among European partners of the advantages Ankara’s accession could offer the European Union, Turkey itself and the stability of the entire region and other neighbouring ones. She also encouraged Turkey to show evidence of its constant commitment to pursue the reforms required for accession. For his part, Cavusoğlu expressed Turkey’s appreciation for the Italian presidency priorities, praising its all-encompassing approach, particularly with regard to migration issues and the Western Balkans’ Euro-Atlantic integration process.
As for the Middle East, the two ministers shared concerns over the situation in Gaza and its possible regional repercussions, and underscored the need to rapidly call a ceasefire and bring the parties to the negotiating table. Minister Mogherini also took the opportunity to report to her Turkish colleague on her recent mission to the region. In relation to Syria, Iraq and Libya, the two ministers agreed – as they had on Gaza – on the need for Rome and Ankara to use their respective influence to convince all the key regional actors to reflect on the general Middle East and Mediterranean framework and forge a global approach to regional problems that would allow for the identification of systemic solutions to the crises currently straining the area.
