Turkey is acting with a strategic perspective of full EU membership, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Thursday during a meeting on the margins of the European Political Community summit in the Hungarian capital Budapest, Anadolu reported, citing Erdogan's press service.
Erdogan also emphasized the need to boost the candidate country's accession process to the EU.
He said Ankara expects the EU to update the Customs Union with Turkey and fulfill its promises to Ankara on visa liberalization for Turkish citizens.
The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues.
Pointing to the “deeply rooted history” between Ankara and Paris, Erdogan emphasized that the development of trade and economic relations would be mutually beneficial for both countries.
“President Erdogan said it is in the interest of all countries to resolve tensions, such as those between Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, Israel and Lebanon, through peaceful diplomacy,” the Turkish presidential public relations office added.
