EU commissioner Füle to meet Taksim Solidarity

ANKARA

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The European Union’s commissioner for enlargement, Stefan Füle, will meet with the representatives of the Taksim Solidarity Platform as part of his scheduled visit to Istanbul on June 6 and 7. Füle’s office said the EU conference he is set to join will set an opportunity “to reflect on lessons learned from events of the last few days,” in reference to the ongoing popular rallies against the government.

Brussels had previously criticized the Turkish police’s disproportionate use of force against the protestors in Gezi Park. The commissioner will speak at the conference “Rethinking Global Challenges,” which will focus on a wider vision for the EU-Turkey relations against the background of current and future challenges.

“The conference will be an opportunity to engage in a debate on the medium term future of Turkey and reflect on lessons learned from events of the last few days,” read a statement issued from Füle’s office on Thursday. The conference will be opened by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s address to the participants.

Füle will also meet with Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış, as well as a number of think-tanks.