EU-Turkey Leaders’ Meeting in Varna

VARNA, BULGARIA - MARCH 26: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at a joint news conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk following the European Union-Turkey Leaders' Meeting in the Bulgarian city of Varna on March 26, 2018. Turkey's president said Monday it would be a "grave mistake" for Europe to push Turkey out of its expansion policy. "It would be a grave mistake for Europe, which claims to be a global force, to push Turkey out of its expansion policy," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a joint news conference of the Turkey-EU summit in the Bulgarian city of Varna. "Our operations against terrorism not only contribute to the security of ourselves and the Syrians but also to the security of Europe," he said. “We now expect strong support [from Europe] on sensitive issues such as the fight against terrorism instead of rambling and unjust criticism,” he added. "I hope that we together have taken the first step of restoring confidence between the EU and us [Turkey] today, but it is not enough to say that we took this step; it has to be taken in concrete terms.” "We hope that we have left a difficult period in Turkey-EU relations behind," he said. Regarding visa-free travel for Turkish nationals within the Schengen area, Erdogan said Ankara had submitted the necessary paperwork to the EU Commission in early February. “We told the EU side that its task should be completed as soon as possible,” he added. Additionally, Erdogan said Ankara was hoping the process to update the customs union with the EU would begin. Erdogan also addressed the issue of Cyprus. "Regardless of the course of the Cyprus issue, the equal involvement of Turkish Cypriots in decision-making on natural resources around the island is in accordance with international law," he said. (Footage by Celaleddin Gurbuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)