Why the EU must invite Turkey’s foreign minister to the Gymnich meeting

Source:Middle East Eye Date:16Aug2023

The first serious test of EU  intentions vis-a-vis Turkey is coming up

In two weeks’ time, the foreign affairs ministers of EU countries will convene in the Spanish town of Toledo to hold their second Gymnich meeting of this year.

The Gymnich meetings are organised by the member state which holds the EU’s rotating presidency. The informal setting of these meetings creates a perfect environment to hold frank and open discussions on geopolitical developments and the EU’s strategic foreign policy priorities and common approaches.

Depending on the topics being discussed, an invitation to these meetings is often extended to foreign affairs ministers of non-EU countries. The last time a Turkish minister of foreign affairs was invited to a Gymnich meeting was during the Romanian EU presidency in the first half of 2019.

Due to the deteriorating relationship between Ankara and Brussels, no invitation to attend a Gymnich has been extended to Ankara since then.