Brussels, Belgium. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Cyprus issue, the Eastern Mediterranean and EU-Turkey relations during a phone call on Tuesday. Von der Leyen said the EU stands ready to support the UN-led process on Cyprus at every stage.
Topics raised in the call
In a post on X, von der Leyen described the conversation as “very good” and called Turkey “a key partner in a region in turmoil.” She underlined the importance of EU-Turkey relations and said EU and Turkish interests align on several strategic priorities, including keeping trade routes open, ensuring continued energy flows and maintaining stable supply chains. She added that close cooperation on these priorities would continue.
Von der Leyen also said the European Union appreciates Turkey’s efforts to support de-escalation and a diplomatic solution to the conflict involving Iran.
Request and focus of the discussion
According to information from the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the phone call took place at the request of Erdogan. Sources said the discussion focused exclusively on the conflict in the Middle East, the Cyprus issue and the importance of reaching an agreement on a solution, as well as broader EU-Turkey relations.
What do you think are the main priorities for the UN-led Cyprus process at this stage?
