(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The EU Tuesday reaffirmed the importance it attaches to relations with Turkey as a "key partner for the European Union.
"Turkey is a candidate country and a key partner for the EU. Its dynamic economy provides a valuable contribution to the prosperity of the European continent," said the EU General Affairs Council in a statement after its meeting today.
The Council pointed out to "the important regional role of Turkey and its active involvement in its wider neighbourhood. The very serious developments in the region, in particular in Syria and Iraq, render it crucial that dialogue and cooperation on foreign policy issues is increased within the framework of the EU-Turkey political dialogue," it said.
The EU welcomed the reception and shelter by Turkey of well over one million refugees fleeing the violence in Syria and Iraq and said it will continue to support Turkey so it can deal effectively with the increasing flow of refugees.
"The political dialogue should be used to develop closer cooperation against ISIL and its funding networks, as well as to enhance the cooperation to stem the flow of foreign fighters. The Council also welcomes the active counter terrorism dialogue between the EU and Turkey, and the exchange of best practice on the prevention of radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism," said the statement.
The statement recalled that the Kurdish Workers' Party, PKK, is on the EU list of terrorist organisations.
The Council discussed the EU's enlargement process that includes Turkey and several other Balkan states , Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo.
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