Turkey-EU relations should not be held hostage to “narrow agendas of certain members”, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Ankara.

The Turkish president expressed hope “for decisions from the EU that will update the Customs Union, speed up visa issuance procedures until visa liberalization is achieved.”

He stressed the need for a stronger, more institutionalized relationship with the EU. As a candidate country “we are committed to this goal” he said.

The President of the Commission is in Ankara for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the rapid developments in Syria.

Erdogan said he agreed with the Commission on the need to create an inclusive administration in Syria.

“Turkey is the only country that has defeated the terrorist organizations PKK, and Daesh/ISIS in the field,” President Erdogan said, adding that Ankara “is the only NATO ally in this regard.” In the region, he explained, according to SKAI’s correspondent in Constantinople, Manoli Kostidis, there is no place for terrorist organizations.

Turkey’s president said he expects the European Union to support the return of Syrians who fled the country during the 13-year civil war in their homeland.

The talks will focus on the need to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and protect minorities after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, he said on December 10 at the UN. von der Leyen.

The European Commission president also planned to discuss humanitarian aid with the Turkish president.

Von der Leyen stressed “the importance of addressing Turkey’s legitimate national security concerns in Syria.” “We must also have contacts with the Islamists” noted the head of the Commission. “We have to increase our pace, and we have to have contacts with the members of HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) and the other representatives. We have to work hard to get Syria back on its feet, to have infrastructure, water, and electricity,” he noted.

“Mr. Erdogan! Indeed, Turkey here in the region has a very important role. It has an important role to bring stability to the region. In the fight against terrorism, we must be very careful. Mainly in eastern Syria, there is a risk of resumption of ISIS activity, we cannot allow this.”