EU Foreign Policy Chief to seek greater participation from Turkey in fight against IS during key visit

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini is in Turkey to seek greater participation from the nation in the fight against Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

Mogherini said in a statement that the visit was a "strong indication" of the strategic importance of the EU-Turkey relationship and a desire to step-up engagement, reported the BBC.

The Foreign Policy Chief along with other EU officials will urge Turkey to halt the flow of foreign fighters across its borders and to help identify them. The EU wants the nation to issue warnings for any danger to aviation security and provide greater support and help in the fight to take on the IS and other militant groups in the Middle East as part of a drive to curtail the flow of foreign fighters and restrict their funding.

Mogherini said in a tweet from the capital Ankara that her agenda also included Turkey's EU accession bid.

Negotiations over Turkish membership of the EU have been going on since 2005 but have been delayed because of disagreements over the divided island of Cyprus and resistance from some member countries to Turkish EU membership.