EU-Turkey leaders’ meeting, 9 March 2020

Summary:

A meeting between Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was held on 9 March 2020.

Further information:

The meeting focused on bilateral relations, on the implementation of the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement relating to migration and on the latest developments in the unfolding conflict in Syria.

Both sides decided to work on clarifying the implementation of the deal between between Turkey and the European Union (EU), aiming to ensure uniform interpretation of the agreement. Leaders also discussed security issues in Syria - the EU stated its support to any political solution which is able to introduce greater stability, and expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Idlib and on the border between Turkey and Syria.

Official

European Council: Remarks by President Charles Michel before EU leaders' meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (9 March 2020) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/03/09/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-before-eu-leaders-meeting-with-president-of-turkey-recep-tayyip-erdogan/

European Council: Remarks by President Charles Michel after the meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Brussels (9 March 2020) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/03/09/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-after-the-meeting-with-president-of-turkey-recep-tayyip-erdogan/

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel, following their meeting with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (9 March 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_429

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News

EUObserver, 09/03/2020: Erdoğan to meet top EU officials on border crisis https://euobserver.com/foreign/147662

The Guardian, 09/03/2020: EU and Turkey hold 'frank' talks over border opening for refugees https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/09/turkey-erdogan-holds-talks-with-eu-leaders-over-border-opening

Reuters, 09/03/2020: EU tells Turkey to pull migrants back from Greek border https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN20W1AO

Deutsche Welle, 09/03/2020: EU remains committed to refugee pact with Turkey https://p.dw.com/p/3Z7AY

Euronews, 10/03/2020: EU and Turkey agree to review 2016 migration deal https://www.euronews.com/2020/03/09/erdogan-to-meet-eu-officials-in-brussels-amid-migration-crisis-at-greek-border

France24, 10/03/2020: Turkey’s Erdogan leaves EU talks without agreement on migrants https://www.france24.com/en/20200310-turkey-s-erdogan-leaves-eu-talks-without-agreement-on-migrants

EurActiv, 10/03/2020: Stern-faced EU leaders warn Erdogan to respect migrants deal https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/stern-faced-eu-leaders-warn-erdogan-to-respect-migrants-deal/

EUObserver, 10/03/2020: No new migrant deal between EU and Turkey https://euobserver.com/migration/147681

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Commentary and Analysis

EPRS: Briefing, March 2020: EU-Turkey relations in light of the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)649327

Euro|topics, March 2020: Refugees: EU and Turkey fail to find solution https://www.eurotopics.net/en/236639/

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ESO Records

EU-Turkey Statement on refugees under strain over impact of Syrian conflict https://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-turkey-refugee-deal-under-strain-over-impact-syrian-conflict/

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