Press Release: EU-Turkey Association Council, Brussels, 27 May 2013

The EU-Turkey Association Council held its 51st meeting on Monday, 27 May 2013 in Brussels.

The Association Council meeting provided a timely opportunity to review EU-Turkey relations. In line with the Council conclusions of 11 December 2012, the EU reaffirmed the importance it attached to its relations with Turkey, a candidate country and a key partner for the European Union, considering its dynamic economy and strategic location.

It was underlined that active and credible accession negotiations which respect the EU's commitments and established conditionality, along with all other dimensions of the EU-Turkey relationship, would enable this relationship to achieve its full potential. In this regard, the EU welcomed recent progress towards opening of Chapter 22 - Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments.