EU-Turkey Leaders' Meeting in Varna - Press Conference

EU and Turkey remain close partners in implementing the agreement on migrants, the President of the Council of the EU, Donald Tusk said during the joint press conference after the meeting on 26^th of March in Varna. He stressed, however, that "no solutions or compromises have been reached" on issues of concern.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Borissov said that he hoped by June to have a second meeting to see progress on the agreed issues. The key meeting between the EU and Turkey was attended by Donald Tusk, the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Speaking at the press conference, Donald Tusk thanked Prime Minister Borissov for hosting the EU-Turkey meeting. The meeting is of exceptional importance. Last year, we agreed to step up the dialogue with Turkey on various topics.

We remain close partners on the topic of support for the refugees, Tusk said.

We thank Turkey for providing shelter to nearly 3 million refugees and for making efforts for them. We are committed to supporting these efforts, Tusk said. In his words, Turkey should maintain democracy.

We want to encourage Turkey to work with the Council of Europe in order not to harm human rights. Good bilateral relations are an important aspect that is part of the accession process. There are still some concerns in relation to the Aegean Sea as well as the retention of EU citizens.

Tusk also said the fight against terrorism had been discussed, with EU leaders voicing concern over Turkey's actions in Afrin. Violence and displacement there should be stopped, he called.

There are difficulties, but I hope we will maintain our partnership, Tusk added.

We hope that the period of bad relations between the EU and Turkey has remained in the past, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the meeting with European leaders and Prime Minister Borissov in Varna.

Turkey fulfills its commitments, including the care for the Syrian refugees hosted in the country, as well as the fight against terrorism. There was an EU commitment of EUR 3 billion in financial assistance, but we have only received 1.8 billion so far. I hope that with the second tranche, we will get the support that will make their lives easier, the Turkish President said.

As regards the customs union, we also have expectations and expressed them. Negotiation chapters, which are beneficial to both parties, should be discussed sooner rather than later. There are difficulties regarding bilateral agreements, we especially paid attention to those on land transport, he added.

On the subject of security, Erdogan said that Turkey is currently targeting a number of terrorist organisations, against which it is fighting both within and outside the country. We have destroyed about 3,000 terrorists from Daesh, these operations contribute to Europe's security. We expect strong support, he commented.

We respect human rights and freedoms, this is also said by our people, who took to the streets during the atempted coup.

EU countries are strategic partners and it will be a mistake to isolate Turkey, we are a dynamic country with young population. We have lasting economic ties, Erdogan added.

I am very happy to contribute to a climate of trust between the EU and Turkey, EC President Jean-Claude Juncker said at the press conference. Sometimes I had to get up and walk around the room, I will not tell about that part of the meeting, he added.

The Turkish people are a great peoples, often very brave, and for whom I have great respect and admiration, said Juncker.

We want Turkey to be a real strategic partner of the EU, and we must maintain a sincere and honest dialogue to deepen what brings us closer together and to find a solution to what keeps us apart.

I believe that Turkey and the EU are making a big mistake by stresing the differences that keeps us apart and never talk about common things that can unite us and make us partners. With our Turkish friends, we share many common interests and many challenges. We share geostrategic interests related to security and energy supply. We are never talking about working together and Europe is giving its financial contribution, its project, given by the European Investment Bank.

We have also met with common challenges in the fight against terrorism - a joint obligation that affects both Turkey and the EU equally. Only united will be able to deal with this terrible disaster - terrorism.

I would like to see the intervention in Syria conform to international law, Juncker commented.

With regard to migration, not everything is perfect, but the agreement we have managed to conclude between Turkey and the EU is very effective in terms of verifiable results.

The number of refugees from Turkey to the European continent has declined - by 87% - and that is the credit of the Turkish Republic, which has managed to shelter many millions of people coming from Syria on its territory. This proves that Turkey, when it has to set an example in terms of solidarity, really does and proves its solidarity with the EU. IT did a lot of work, something we can thank Turkey for, he said.

At the press conference, Bulgaria’s PM Borissov thanked the EU leaders and Erdogan “for talking about what brings us together," noting that "such constructive position was not expected" at this meeting which was "charged with so much tension".

We achieved a large part of the goals that we had set ourselves, the PM said. He thanked all members of the Council for voting unanimously in favour of holding this meeting.

I am grateful to the three of you that we have tried to talk about what brings us together,

We raised all issues concerning Bulgaria and Europe. At the bilateral meetings, we considered all topics, the Bulgarian PM said.

Borissov hopes that one more such meeting will take place before the end of the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency on 30^th of June.

Borissov thanked Erdogan for "the zero migrant pressure" on Bulgaria' border with Turkey.