A first after 5 years: Gymnich invitation to Turkey

Turkey has been invited for the first time in five years to the informal meeting held every six months by the foreign ministers of European Union (EU) member states. The meeting, which takes its name from Gymnich Castle in Germany where it was first held in 1974, will take place in Brussels. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will travel to Brussels on August 29 to attend the meeting.

The invitation came during the term presidency of Hungary, which has drawn attention within the EU for its proximity to Russia.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli stated that Ankara welcomes this invitation, saying, "We evaluate this as a search for dialogue by the EU." Stating that "We hope this step will pave the way for the amendment of the EU Foreign Affairs Council decisions dated July 15, 2019, which have led our relations into a deadlock, in the coming period," Keçeli commented, "This invitation is also a sign that the EU understands the necessity of developing relations between Turkey and the EU in the face of regional and global challenges."

VISA LIBERALIZATION PROCESS

Keçeli stated that "this positive approach should not be limited to the Gymnich meetings," adding, "It is essential that our cooperation and dialogue with the EU in every field be placed on a continuous and systematic basis and strengthened in a sustainable and predictable manner in order to make progress in relations."

The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson also called for the revitalization of Turkey's EU accession process and for concrete steps to be taken in the visa liberalization process:

"Concrete steps need to be taken on major issues such as the revitalization of our country's accession process, the immediate commencement of negotiations regarding the update of the Customs Union, the visa liberalization process, the reactivation of structural dialogue mechanisms, and the restoration of the functionality of high-level dialogues, particularly in areas requiring close cooperation such as politics, economy, transport, and energy."

WHAT ARE GYMNICH MEETINGS?

The EU's Gymnich meetings have been organized by the term presidency every six months since 1974. Deputy ministers do not attend the meetings, where informal contacts are made between foreign ministers. In this way, it is aimed to provide an environment at the ministerial level that will pave the way for a more informal, free, and honest exchange of views.

The meeting takes its name from Gymnich Castle in Erftstadt, in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany, where it was first held.

Gymnich meetings are considered to help develop a common view and strategy among member states by ensuring the coordination of the EU's foreign policy and security strategies. For this reason, the meetings are regarded by the EU as a critical platform for determining and implementing common foreign policy goals.