Statement by Volkan Bozkır on the Decision of the European Council to Elect a New European Council President and to Appoint a New EU High Representative

In the Special Meeting of the European Council held on 30 August 2014 in Brussels, the new President of the European Council and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have been determined.  Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, was elected to succeed Herman Van Rompuy as President of the European Council and the Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini replaced Catherine Ashton as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

I congratulate Donald Tusk and Federica Mogherini, who will be assuming important responsibilities with these critical appointments during a difficult period in which the EU faces significant challenges. I hope that these appointments pave the way for a better future in EU Member States, candidate and potential candidate countries, as well as for the international community.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my strong belief that a new and dynamic period in EU-Türkiye relations will begin. Türkiye has and will always support the universal values on which Europe is founded. Türkiye, with its strong and stable economy, geostrategic position and multifaceted foreign policy, continues to be a key country today for the security and prosperity of the EU.

We welcome the appointment of the new EU leaders from Italy and Poland, two important countries which support Türkiye's EU membership. I hope that in the forthcoming period, the EU project is further strengthened, the visibility of the Union is increased and Türkiye's EU accession process gains a new momentum.