On Wednesday, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara to discuss bilateral relations between the European Union and Turkey. The Cyprus issue is expected to be one of the key topics of the meeting, alongside ongoing regional developments and diplomatic efforts by the UN Secretary-General to resolve the longstanding dispute.

The talks come amid a strategic need to enhance dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Turkey, based on shared interests and practical steps. The leaders will also review progress on implementing a common declaration adopted in November 2023 that addresses political, economic, and trade relations.

The EU remains Turkey's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching €198.1 billion in 2022. The relationship is grounded in the 1963 Ankara Agreement, which continues to be the framework for their strategic partnership.