English transcript

MODERATOR Thank you, Paula.

This is Judith Richardson from Anadolu Agency.

I have a question about President von der Leyen's remarks at the ZEIT newspaper event

in Hamburg two days ago.

If you will allow me to quote, she said that it's essential we succeed in completing the

European continent so that it's not influenced by Russia, Turkey, or China.

So I would just like to know, is the President not aware that Turkey, also a NATO member,

is an EU candidate country?

And can you explain the reasoning behind why she would list Ankara, you know, with countries

the EU sees as adversaries?

In fact, the President referred to Turkey, as you rightly mentioned.

And what was said here is, of course, that Turkey precisely as a candidate country also

has an additional responsibility in the neighborhood, and we do not oversee the influence that it

has in the neighborhood.