UPDATE - Turkish President Erdogan meets with European leaders on margins of Budapest summit

UPDATES WITH ERDOGAN’S MEETING WITH DENMARK’S PREMIER; CHANGES HEAD, LEDE

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday met with European leaders to discuss various issues on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.

Erdogan and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Thursday discussed ties between the two nations as well as regional and global issues.

Erdogan received Schoof during his visit to Budapest, Hungary for the European Political Community Summit, said Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.

“At the meeting, President Erdoğan stated that efforts are underway to enhance Türkiye-Netherlands relations, boost the trade volume, and enrich cooperation opportunities in every field, particularly the defense industry, green and digital transformation, and energy,” said the directorate on X.

Erdogan added that Türkiye is working towards its aim of full EU membership, stressing that revitalizing the process and updating the Customs Union would be in the interest of both sides.

Stating that Ankara is working to ensure lasting peace and stability in all crisis areas around the world, particularly in Ukraine, Palestine, and Lebanon, Erdogan underlined the importance of the global community working together to stop Israeli aggression from spreading.

- Meeting with Denmark’s premier

Erdogan also received Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a separate meeting on the summit margins, with regional and global issues on the agenda.

Pointing to the ongoing efforts by the two countries to strengthen bilateral relations by increasing bilateral trade, Erdogan also discussed Ankara's relations with the EU.

Reiterating that Ankara expects EU member countries to revitalize its accession process and strengthen the Customs Union between the two sides, noting that this would also strengthen the bloc.

In addition, the Turkish president underlined that Israel has committed crimes against humanity in Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza, as well as in Lebanon, stressing the importance of all countries exerting political and diplomatic pressure on Israel to address these violations.