Ursula von de Leyen and Charles Michel in Ankara to reconnect with Erdogan

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the Council of the EU, Charles Michel, in videoconference with the Turkish President in Brussels, March 19, 2021. AFP - STEPHANIE LECOCQ

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The President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen are going to Ankara on Tuesday to present to President Erdogan the conditions of the EU for a gradual resumption of economic relations and to discuss support for refugees settled in Turkey.   

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It is the symbolic visit that Ankara was waiting for.

Charles Michel the President of the European Council and Ursula von der Leyen the President of the European Commission will visit the Turkish capital this Tuesday.

After the European Council in March which decided not to sanction Turkey in view in particular of the drop in

tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean

and the opening of a so-called "positive" agenda, it is time for practical work.

It is not a question of concretely negotiating, but of a

first direct contact

after the video exchanges and the phone calls.

Many files

The carrot rather than the stick, then.

Tuesday's visit is another demonstration of the line chosen by Europeans vis-à-vis Turkey.

The Twenty-Seven notably put on the table certain visa facilities for Turkish nationals and the modernization of the Customs Union. 

Some EU members want Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel to also raise the issue of

the rule of law

and human rights in Turkey.

No question of being complacent,

 " said a diplomat.

But it is above all on regional issues that the EU is waiting for signs, in particular on the attitude considered aggressive by Ankara in

Libya

, Syria or the Caucasus.

The 27 are also awaiting the results of the negotiations underway after the tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.  

But it is on the issue of mainly Syrian refugees in Turkey that we can expect concrete progress.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to renegotiate the migration pact signed in 2016 and obtain more funding for the reception of four million refugees.

A sign of the importance of the dossier for the EU, after Ankara, Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Jordan, which hosts more than 600,000 

Syrian nationals

.

See also: Turkey-EU migration agreement: five years later, the reform desired by Erdogan remains blocked

Limited room for maneuver

On the Turkish side, if we can not really speak of a "charm offensive", Recep Tayyip Erdogan has clearly moderated his words with regard to the European Union in recent months, observes our correspondent in Istanbul,

Anne Andlauer.

.

The arrival of Joe Biden at the head of the United States and the worrying situation of the Turkish economy entangled in inflation, unemployment and monetary difficulties, forced the head of state to reconsider his attitude towards - opinion of Westerners.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan hopes that the economy will benefit from this appeasement and that he himself will be able to approach the 2023 elections in a more favorable political climate.

But the head of state is in a complicated situation: he is courting the

nationalist

and religious

electorate

and therefore does not want to give the impression of making concessions without compensation.

This is why Turkey has said it is ready to respond with " 

positive steps

 " to any gestures by the Twenty-Seven when in reality, it is Europe which expects concrete gestures from Turkey.

► See also: Turkey: Erdogan continues his calls with his foot to the European Union

The hope of Turkish entrepreneurs 

He's 30 years old and his head is full of ideas.

Originally from a family of entrepreneurs in south-eastern Turkey, Şeyhmuş Kaymaz is finalizing a business project.

A project selected as very innovative by Tubitak, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey. 

Above all, we do not want political questions to slow down the development of our company,

 " emphasizes Şeyhmuş Kaymaz.

Şeyhmuş Kaymaz does not want tensions with the EU but rather an appeasement in order to be able to sell to Europeans as well as to Turks its system of industrial compressors which makes it possible to make 40% savings on air conditioning. 

 As a priority, to better integrate into the operating methods of our European partners, our country could move a little closer to the legal system, the health system and commercial legislation.

otherwise the Europeans could have a bad opinion of us, and that is unfortunately what is happening today in my eyes, 

”he underlines.

Şeyhmuş Kaymaz has already started a collaboration with the Spanish branch of a German company.

Today he only hopes for one thing: to expand the development of his business. 

Many European employers also hope for a development of relations with Turkey.

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  • Turkey

  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  • European Union

  • Ursula von der Leyen

  • Diplomacy