Turkey’s EU minister to hold talks in Brussels

ANKARA

AA photo

Turkey’s European Union Affairs Minister Ömer Çelik will hold talks with senior EU officials and attend a consultative committee meeting during his visit to Brussels on July 18 and 19, the EU Affairs Ministry has announced. 

Çelik’s visit to Brussels comes after Turkey marked the first anniversary of the July 15, 2016, coup attempt, amid continued criticisms against European nations over the lack of support and solidarity presented to the Turkish government. 

The primary objective of Çelik’s visit is to attend the 36th Turkey-EU Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) with Turkish and European representatives of civil society and the business world, the ministry said in a written statement on July 17. 

Çelik will address the JCC and hold a bilateral meeting with Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, on issues concerning both parties. Mogherini and Çelik will follow the European Parliament’s adoption of a report that advises EU to cut accession talks with Turkey on grounds of serious violations of human rights and democratic norms in Turkey.  

“All aspects of the relationship between Turkey and the EU will be discussed during EU Minister Ömer Çelik’s visit to Brussels,” the statement said. 

When in Brussels, Çelik will also inaugurate state-run Anadolu Agency’s photo exhibition on last year’s attempted takeover.