After the arrest of opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu in Turkiye, the EU plans to reconsider its cooperation with the country.

Axar.az reports according to foreign media, "In light of the recent concerning developments, we must carefully recalibrate our engagement," stated an EU spokesperson, Markus Lammert, on Wednesday. However, Turkiye remains a strategically important partner. For weeks, hundreds of thousands of Turks have been protesting against the arrest of Imamoglu.

The EU wants to see Turkiye "anchored in European values," stated Lammert. However, "we will continue to raise concerns and issues regarding the rule of law," he added.

The EU is attempting a balancing act regarding its relations with Ankara. On one hand, the European alliance demands the adherence to democratic values. On the other hand, it wants to deepen its economic relations with the Eurasian state. On Thursday, high-level talks between representatives of Brussels and Ankara regarding economic relations will take place for the first time in six years. Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek is expected to attend the meeting in Brussels.