Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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499. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the European Union and the United Nations continue to encourage Turkish participation in seeking a resolution to strife in the Middle East; the extent to which negotiations in respect of Turkey's membership of the European Union continue to be a feature in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45679/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Turkey is a candidate country for accession to the European Union. As such, it is working towards aligning itself with all aspects of the acquis communautaire, including Chapter 31 which deals with foreign, security and defence policy. The European Union maintains regular dialogue with Turkey, including on issues of foreign policy, and at a meeting of heads of state or government on 29 November, the EU agreed to intensity these high-level discussions. Most recently, the Turkish Foreign Minister participated in a working lunch with EU Foreign Ministers, which I attended, and where we had a productive discussion on the international situation, including Syria.