“Two major issues are testing the EU’s unity and cohesion: the refugee crisis and the security issue. We hope and will strive for the EU to find ways to emerge unified and effective from this twofold test,” stressed Alternate Foreign Minister Nikos Xydakis in his remarks at today’s meeting of the EU General Affairs Council, in Brussels.
Mr. Xydakis briefed his counterparts on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ visit to Turkey, noting that “the Prime Minister will be going to Turkey today, for a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the intensive efforts that have also been made by the European Commission, the Presidency and the Council towards a framework for talks and negotiations with Turkey on controlling the refugee crisis, as well as a substantial intervention by Europe regarding the Middle East crisis as a whole, which is now being exported into Europe.”
“We expect a great deal from the development of these Greek-Turkish and EU-Turkish talks on the Summit level, preparing a secure framework for the Summit Meeting with the participation of Turkey, which is slated for the end of the month,” Mr. Xydakis stressed.
November 17, 2015