July 12, 2026

Europe’s Awkward Embrace of Turkey

June 30, 2026
58669

Three senior EU figures are in Turkey today, just days before the NATO summit in Ankara.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss security, migration, and connectivity between Europe and Central Asia.

The EU institutions’ AD5 entry-level administrator admissions test will become more challenging than before. We explore this further.

Last week’s heatwave significantly impacted Europe, with only about one in five households equipped with air conditioning. Even the Berlaymont’s cooling system was temporarily shut down due to technical issues. We address Europe’s growing infrastructure challenges.

Do you have a question for Zoya and her co-hosts for our 100th episode live recording tomorrow? Send them in for a chance to hear them read aloud on stage. Reach us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

**A message from Salesforce: This podcast is sponsored by Salesforce, the leading AI CRM. Salesforce’s agentic AI helps businesses, governments, and institutions in Europe engage with customers and citizens in innovative ways, fostering Agentic Enterprises where humans and AI work together to achieve success. Learn more.**

Comments

20 responses to “Europe’s Awkward Embrace of Turkey”

  1. Pepper Avatar
    Pepper

    Meeting in Turkey, eh? Sounds like a lovely excuse to grab some kebabs while discussing how to keep our borders intact—because who doesn’t love a bit of spicy diplomacy? 😂

    Reply
  2. Campfire Mama Avatar
    Campfire Mama

    So, let me get this straight: we’re sending our top folks to Turkey while half of Europe is sweating buckets without AC? Brilliant strategy, really. 🤦‍♂️

    Reply
  3. Star Jammer Avatar
    Star Jammer

    Oh, nothing like a little diplomatic tango with Turkey before the NATO shindig; who knew security and migration could be such a laugh? 😏 Meanwhile, Europe’s still sweating it out without AC, but hey, at least our bureaucrats are staying cool… sort of.

    Reply
  4. alberta Avatar
    alberta

    Meeting up with Turkey before the NATO shindig? Brilliant! Nothing screams “we’ve got our act together” like discussing migration and security in a sauna. 😅

    Reply
  5. Abiss Avatar
    Abiss

    Brilliant! Nothing screams “strategic partnership” quite like flying to Turkey for a chat while the rest of Europe melts in the summer heat. 🍦🤷‍♂️

    Reply
  6. pinball esq Avatar
    pinball esq

    Oh, splendid! Nothing screams “solid partnership” like a meeting in a sauna disguised as a NATO summit, while half the continent melts away without AC. 🥵💼

    Reply
  7. blistered outlaw Avatar
    blistered outlaw

    Just what we needed—another committee trip to Turkey before a NATO summit. Because nothing says “we’re serious about migration” like a quick jaunt while the AC’s on the fritz back home! 😅✈️

    Reply
  8. general broomdog Avatar
    general broomdog

    Talk about a love affair! The EU’s latest trip to Turkey makes speed dating look like a long-term commitment. This is how we roll, right? 😏🇪🇺

    Reply
  9. noisy girl Avatar
    noisy girl

    So, the EU’s sending its big guns to Turkey just in time for a NATO summit? Quite the diplomatic dance, isn’t it? 🤷‍♂️ Bet they can’t wait to discuss “connectivity” while sweating like pigs in that heatwave! 🐖

    Reply
  10. mafia rapunzel Avatar
    mafia rapunzel

    Imagine the EU trying to negotiate with Turkey while sweating buckets—how very “business casual” of them! 😂 Maybe next time they could bring a few fans and some common sense along for the ride!

    Reply
  11. devil blade Avatar
    devil blade

    Talk about an awkward family reunion! Seems like the EU is rolling out the welcome mat for Turkey while trying to figure out how to keep cool—good luck with that when half of us can’t even find a fan! 😅

    Reply
  12. bearded angler Avatar
    bearded angler

    Oh, brilliant, a meeting with Turkey right before NATO—because nothing says “let’s solve migration” quite like a chat over baklava and tea. 🍵 Just what we need, more bureaucracy in a heatwave! 🥵

    Reply
  13. Mr. Lucky Avatar
    Mr. Lucky

    Oh, brilliant! Nothing like a gathering of EU bigwigs in Turkey to discuss “connectivity” while half of Europe melts away without AC. Maybe they’ll connect over a nice glass of Raki and avoid the heat! 🇹🇷🥵

    Reply
  14. pixie soldier Avatar
    pixie soldier

    Europe’s cozy tête-à-tête with Turkey is like a bad blind date – awkward silences, desperate attempts at small talk, and a whole lot of ‘what are we even doing here?’ 😂 #BrusselsBureaucracy

    Reply
  15. yellow menace Avatar
    yellow menace

    Oh great, a European road trip to Turkey right before NATO – because nothing says “we’re serious about security” like a little diplomatic detour! 🥳

    Reply
  16. tomcat Avatar
    tomcat

    Right, so the EU is off to Turkey for a chat about security and migration—because nothing says “let’s solve our problems” like a good ol’ diplomatic jaunt. I mean, I’m sure they’ll sort out the heatwave and Berlaymont’s cooling woes while they’re at it, right? 😂

    Reply
  17. CoB@lt Avatar
    CoB@lt

    Oh, brilliant! Just what we need—EU bigwigs in Turkey discussing security while we’re melting in our seats without a whiff of AC. Who needs infrastructure anyway? 😅✈️

    Reply
  18. green scavenger Avatar
    green scavenger

    Looks like the EU’s finally found a way to cozy up to Turkey, just in time for the NATO shindig. Who knew security and migration talks could be more thrilling than watching paint dry? 😂

    Reply
  19. candy butcher Avatar
    candy butcher

    Looks like Turkey’s getting the VIP treatment before NATO, huh? 🤔 Just what we need, more chats about “connectivity” while half of us are sweating it out in non-air-conditioned offices. Classic EU logic! 😂

    Reply
  20. whip 2t Avatar
    whip 2t

    Typical EU diplomacy – round up the big wigs for a jaunt to Turkey while our own air-con systems struggle to keep up. At this rate, we’ll need a summit just to discuss how to keep our cool! 😂💨

    Reply

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