Turkey is seeking to open a new chapter in its relations with both the United States and the European Union.

The issue of the reopening of the Halki Theological School has returned to the spotlight ahead of Donald Trump’s expected visit to Ankara for the NATO Summit next month, as Turkey attempts to improve ties with both Washington and the EU.

Bloomberg, citing sources, reported that the plan for the Halki Theological School — located on an island near Istanbul — foresees student admissions through Turkey’s national placement system, while the Ministry of Education would oversee academic programs.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew discussed the possible reopening of the school during a meeting held on Tuesday in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Talks between Bartholomew and Erdogan took place in a “warm atmosphere”, according to a statement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The reopening of the Theological School is significant for the Patriarchate’s ability to train future senior clergy. The school, founded in 1844, was closed by the Turkish government in 1971. Bartholomew, with the support of Greece, the European Union and the United States, has long campaigned for its reopening.

Meeting between the Ecumenical Patriarch and Recep Tayyip Erdogan

In a period of particular significance for relations between the Turkish state and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday 16 June 2026.

The meeting took place at the Presidential Palace and, according to the official announcement of the Patriarchate, was held in an cordial atmosphere, focusing on issues concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek community in Istanbul, and outstanding matters that have remained open for decades.

Particular emphasis was placed on the issue of the reopening of the Halki Theological School, a matter of strong symbolic importance both for Orthodoxy and for Turkey’s relations with the international community. According to the Patriarchate, the meeting reviewed ongoing contacts between the Phanar, the Turkish Ministry of Education and the Council of Higher Education regarding the school’s future.

It is recalled that Halki has remained closed since 1971, when its operation was suspended following a decision by Turkey’s Constitutional Court on private higher education institutions. For the Ecumenical Patriarchate, its reopening is a strategically important issue, as it is the historic theological centre for training its clergy. In recent years, particularly following interventions by the United States, the European Union and international church bodies, the issue has returned strongly to the agenda.

Expectations of a positive development have increased in recent months. Patriarch Bartholomew himself, in recent public statements, expressed optimism that the school could reopen after the completion of ongoing restoration works. At the same time, Turkish media and government circles have suggested that Ankara is seriously considering a model for restarting its operation.

Beyond Halki, issues concerning the presence and rights of the Greek community in Turkey were also discussed at the meeting.

In particular, regarding religious freedom, the international press views the Halki issue as an “indicator” of Turkey’s stance towards religious freedoms and non-Muslim communities. The reopening of the school has for decades been a demand of the United States, European institutions and international organisations.

Indeed, international observers assess that the Bartholomew–Erdogan meeting is part of a broader effort to improve Turkey’s international image on religious freedom issues. It is also worth noting that the meeting did not take place in a political vacuum. Since 2024, a formal dialogue has been underway between the Turkish state and the Patriarchate on the reopening of the Halki Theological School, while Patriarch Bartholomew himself has repeatedly stated that he expects the school to resume operations in 2026.

In any case, the reopening of Halki remains a long-standing demand not only of the Ecumenical Patriarchate but also of Washington, European institutions and a large part of the Orthodox world. As early as autumn 2025, President Erdogan had left open the possibility of positive developments, while the issue had even been raised in his contacts with US President Donald Trump.