Senior European Union officials underscored the importance of strengthening relations with Türkiye following high-level talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday, emphasizing cooperation in security, migration, energy, trade and regional stability.

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, described Türkiye as "a key partner on security, migration, and energy," while also reaffirming its status as a candidate country for EU membership, The Caspian Post reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Following her meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kallas said the discussions focused on ways to further strengthen EU-Türkiye relations and highlighted the importance of maintaining good-neighborly relations.

"We also addressed Russia's war against Ukraine, the conflicts in the Middle East, and preparations for the NATO Summit in Ankara. Türkiye is making a significant contribution to protecting NATO’s Eastern Flank," Kallas wrote on the social media platform X.

Magnus Brunner, who joined Kallas and Marta Kos during the visit, said that cooperation on security and migration remains a top priority for both sides and constitutes a central element of the bilateral agenda.

"The current geopolitical situation highlighted that we face common challenges and we need to work together," Brunner said in a post on X.

Kos also emphasized the benefits of closer cooperation between Brussels and Ankara, pointing to opportunities to expand trade and investment and strengthen transport, energy and digital connectivity between Europe and Asia.

"We have much to gain from working more closely with Türkiye ... At a time of growing turbulence, close cooperation between the EU and Türkiye can bring greater predictability and advance regional stability," Kos said on X.