EU-Turkey relations after July 15: Turning the page

A complex and explosive mixture of misunderstandings, bad blood and unrecognised but shared interests brought EU-Turkey relationship to a critical juncture in the summer of 2016.

However, by September 2016, a concrete work agenda of topics which both sides felt that progress could be made had been agreed. These included:

+ Modernising the EU-Turkey Customs Union
+ Implementing the March 2016 refugee deal
+ Continuing work on visa liberalisation
+ Cooperating on counterterrorism
+ Working in concert on foreign policy issues, especially Syria.

ESO: Background information: EU in Turkey charm offensive | Remarks by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the Press Conference with Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-in-turkey-charm-offensive-remarks-by-commissioner-avramopoulos-at-the-press-conference-with-turkish-minister-for-eu-affairs-omer-celik/

ESO: Background information: Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini following the EU-Turkey High Level Political Dialogue, 9 September 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/remarks-by-high-representative-vice-president-federica-mogherini-following-the-eu-turkey-high-level-political-dialogue/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 19.09.16: The EU and Turkey’s Concrete Work Agenda http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=64613

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