EU says charges against Turkey journalists are 'worrying'

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union said Friday spying charges filed against two Turkish journalists after they alleged Ankara's secret services had sent arms to Islamist rebels in Syria were "worrying".

"We are of course following these worrying developments very closely," European Commission foreign affairs spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told a daily briefing, just two days before EU and Turkish leaders meet in Brussels.

"Freedom of expression is one of the fundamental principles for the EU (and) ... we have raised these concerns repeatedly with the Turkish authorities," Kocijancic said.

She recalled that a recent progress report on accession talks with Turkey -- Ankara has sought EU membership since 1987 -- again raised warning flags over Turkey's human rights and civil society norms.

"We will continue to raise these concerns."

Sunday's summit meeting promises to be difficult -- the 28-nation EU is desperate for Turkey's help to cope with a massive migrant influx from war-torn Syria but Ankara is demanding a wholescale upgrade to relations in return.

It wants accession talks to be speeded up significantly, alongside regular summits befitting its status as a major power, plus billions in aid to help it cope with the more than two million Syrian refugees it has taken in.

Asked how the issue might impact Sunday's summit, Kocijancic was non-committal, saying the meeting was part of the broader process of engagement with Turkey.

Meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey, 29/11/2015