European Council report presents roadmap for EU-Turkey ties

Ahead of a European Council summit this week, a report by EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell laid out a roadmap to deepen bilateral trade despite recent setbacks in Ankara’s human rights record, while outlining economic sanctions should more turbulence arise.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Council President Charles Michel hold a video conference call with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels on March 19, 2021. The call comes as the two neighbors seek to make good on improved ties after a spike in tensions last year over maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean. The leaders of the EU's 27 member states are set to discuss the state of relations with Ankara as one of the issues at their summit in Brussels next week.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Council President Charles Michel hold a video conference call with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels on March 19, 2021. The call comes as the two neighbors seek to make good on improved ties after a spike in tensions last year over maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean. The leaders of the EU's 27 member states are set to discuss the state of relations with Ankara as one of the issues at their summit in Brussels next week. - STEPHANIE LECOCQ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
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Diego Cupolo
@diegocupolo

ISTANBUL — With the European Council set to review troubled EU-Turkey relations in a summit later this week, the bloc’s Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell released a report Monday evening laying out a positive agenda based on deeper trade ties with aims to soothe bilateral grievances.

The March 25-26 summit is expected to primarily focus on tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, which have largely subsided since Ankara pulled back energy prospecting vessels from disputed areas in the region late last year.

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