READMISSION: A STEP FORWARD

TURKEY-EU READMISSION AGREEMENT IS RATIFIED AT THE TGNA PLENARY 

IKV: “We welcome the ratification of the Readmission Agreement by the TGNA” 

As IKV we welcome the ratification of the readmission agreement, which is an effective instrument in fighting against the international irregular migration, by the TGNA on 25 June 2014 subsequent to its ratification by the European Parliament. It is without doubt that by virtue of modern border management understanding, readmission is an essential mechanism for all countries in dealing with irregular and illegal migration and thus for the providing of security within and beyond national borders. For Turkey, which has been conducting accession negotiations with the EU, the establishment of the readmission mechanism, beyond being part of the EU accession criteria, is crucial in ensuring the internal and external security of the country. 

Turkey-EU Readmission Agreement which was signed on 16 December 2013 by the contracting parties after lengthy negotiations lasted more than 10 years, foresees the readmission of refugees to Turkey who illegally entered the EU member state territories via Turkey. The readmission of refugees that entered the EU via Turkey will start to be implemented at least three years after the publication of the legal decision in the Official Gazette.  

IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan:  

“Deadlocks are disentangled one by one” 

The ratification of the Turkey-EU Readmission Agreement as a final step prior to its entry into force, has the meaning for the disentanglement of deadlocks one by one existing in Turkey-EU relations for more than 50 years. 

 “Visa Liberalisation Dialogue should be concluded; Visa Obligation should be abandoned”

We wish that, following the ratification of the concerning agreement, the visa liberalisation dialogue towards Turkish nationals which instigated between Turkey and the EU in December 2013 will be swiftly completed in a mindful manner considering the sensitivities of involving parties. In this context, as an institution putting forth the effort to work on the visa issue over the course of many years which compels any political, economic, legal, and above all, any humanitarian norms, we hope that the deadlock and the continuous dispute lasting almost 30 years over the visa obligation towards Turkish nationals will soon be resolved following the ratification of the Readmission Agreement.

“Positive Steps should be reflected upon the negotiation process”

As IKV, we also hope that the positive steps taken on the readmission and visa issue will be optimistically reflected upon the Turkey-EU accession negotiation process proceeding since 2005. It should not be forgotten that Turkey has been putting a great deal of effort in complying with the criteria stated in the Readmission Agreement as well as the Visa Liberalisation Roadmap. We hope that these efforts will both positively contribute to the membership negotiation process and the opening of Chapter 24 on “Justice, Freedom and Security” to negotiations in order to facilitate the visa exemption for Turkish nationals within Europe.

For IKV’s Press Release on Turkey-EU Readmission Agreement, please click

For IKV’s Note on Turkey-EU Readmission Agreement, titled as “TURKEY-EU READMISSION AGREEMENT’S 4WHs AND 2Hs”, please click 

For IKV’s Note on Turkey-EU Readmission Agreement, titled as “8 MYTHS ABOUT THE READMISSION AGREEMENT”, please click