Topical EU issues on the agenda of Finland’s and Luxembourg’s Foreign Ministers
“We were both foreign ministers when negotiations on EU membership started with Turkey in 2005. It was very much the foreign ministers who took the lead on that, and we remain committed to the issue. A European Turkey fulfilling the membership criteria is in European strategic interests,” said Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja at a press conference held together with Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn of Luxembourg in Helsinki on 27 October.
Minister Asselborn said that it would be a big mistake to stop the negotiations with Turkey, considering also the current difficult situation in the Middle East. Asselborn hoped that the negotiations will continue next year.
The ministers had topical EU issues on their agenda, including the enlargement of the Union in the Balkans and the European Council meeting on the stabilisation of the euro zone, held on the day before. Both ministers emphasised the joint will to strengthen the euro, to increase stability and to improve the coordination of the common foreign and security policy.
“There is political will to help Greece and the right decisions have now been made,” said Asselborn, referring to the EU meeting the day before. “Now it is up to us to implement the decisions in the best possible way.”