UPDATE - EU Commission voices interest in developing mutually beneficial partnership with Türkiye

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By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The EU Commission on Wednesday said the EU is interested in developing a "mutually beneficial partnership" with Türkiye.

"The European Union clearly has a strategic interest to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with Türkiye and maintain a stable and secure environment in the eastern Mediterranean," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told a press conference in Brussels along with European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, where they presented a joint report on Turkish-EU relations.

The EU has identified a number of possible options towards engagement with Ankara, Borrell said, adding that the EU Commission has suggested resuming dialogue on updating the Customs Union with Türkiye, as well as taking more steps on trade, investment, migration, and visa liberalization.

Turkish leaders have long pressed for an update to the Customs Union as well as for the European Union to keep its promises on visa liberalization made under a 2016 pact on irregular immigrants.

The commission also proposed that "all efforts be taken to bridge the key differences" between Ankara and the EU.

On defense cooperation with Ankara, he said there is a "good framework" for such cooperation between EU member states and longtime NATO member Türkiye.

Türkiye, an official candidate for joining the bloc, applied for EU membership in 1987, and its accession talks began in 2005.

In the years since, the talks have been essentially frozen due to political roadblocks by certain EU members for reasons unrelated to its suitability for membership, according to Ankara.