EU Council vows to strengthen cooperation with Turkey

By Serife Cetin

BRUSSELS

The Council of the European Union agreed to strengthen cooperation with Turkey through enhanced political dialogue and by offering more support in the fight against terrorism during a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.

In statement released on its official website after the meeting, the council said it adopted its conclusions on EU external action on counter-terrorism. "The Council reiterates its strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever and for whatever purpose…

“Terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security."

It called for “strengthened cooperation with the Middle-East and North Africa, Western Balkans, Turkey, Sahel and the Horn of Africa, through enhanced political dialogue, more counter-terrorism projects and financial support for counter-terrorism and countering and preventing violent extremism, and reinforced strategic communications, in particular through StratComms Task Force South.”

It also urged the “strengthening the EU response in key thematic areas, such as preventing and countering violent extremism, the need to effectively address online recruitment and radicalization, the acute challenge of foreign terrorist fighters, in particular the issue of returnees, aviation security, firearms trafficking, the issue of terrorist financing and money laundering and the links between serious and organized crime and terrorism.”