EU and Turkish foreign ministers meet in Vienna

Press release 50/2006
6 March, 2006


A foreign minister meeting between the EU and Turkey will take place on 8 March in Vienna. The EU will be represented by the so called Troika which consists of the present and next presiding country, the Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council. The meeting will be attended by Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn.

The meeting will focus on Turkish-EU relations as well as on international affairs. Turkey, not the least due to its geographical location, is an important discussion partner in issues related to the situations in the Middle East and Southern Caucasia. Other topical theme will be energy cooperation.

The EU decided to launch accession talks with Turkey on 3 October, 2005. The EU Troika will meet the Turkish foreign minister twice a year, in addition to which there are several other points of contact. Turkey as an applicant country participates in certain sections of the unofficial foreign minister meetings of the EU, the so called Gymnich meetings. The next Gymnich will be organised on 10-11 March in Salzburg.

Further information: Director Jarno Syrjälä, Unit for European Common Foreign and Security Policy, tel. +358 9 1605 5026, +358 40 836 0594, and Adviser to the Minister Katri Viinikka, tel. +358 9 1605 5005, +358 40 7408 847