"The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both sides to continue their political dialogue and engagement in areas of common interest and challenges," the press service said.
On November 24, European lawmakers voted in favor of freezing European Union accession talks with Turkey until it lifts restrictive measures in place since the July failed coup. The following day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to open the country's borders for refugees to cross into Europe if the European Union continued its anti-Turkey policies.
Ankara and Brussels agreed on a deal in March, under which Turkey pledged to take back all undocumented migrants who arrive in the European Union through its territory in exchange for Syrian refugees accommodated in Turkey, on a one-for-one basis.
Turkey signed an association agreement with the then-European Community in 1963, and submitted a membership application in 1987. Talks about Ankara's membership of the European Union began in 2005. The negotiations on Turkey's EU membership have been repeatedly suspended due to the Cyprus dispute and Turkey's record of denying press freedom, among other obstacles.
