Date of release : 04-03-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : EU-Turkey (Troika)

Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs and current President of the Council of the European Union, will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül in Ankara on 7 March as part of an EU Troika Meeting with Turkey at the ministerial level.

Alongside Minister Asselborn, the European Union delegation will include Olli Rehn, European Commissioner in charge of Enlargement, and Denis MacShane, British Minister for Europe.

The discussions will focus on Turkey's progress in moving closer to the European Union following the European Council of 17 and 18 December 2004 and ahead of the start of accession negotiations on 3 October 2005. The two parties will, in particular, address the progress in the implementation of Copenhagen Political Criteria.

The talks in Ankara are part of the ongoing preparations under Luxembourg Presidency for the opening of accession negociations with Turkey.

The European Union delegation and Minister Gül will alsohave an exchange of views on a number of international topics, such as the Middle East Peace Process, Iraq, Iran, the Southern Caucasus and EU-NATO relations.