October 2016 marks the target date for the start of visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Turkish citizens. Visa liberalisation for Turks was one of the components of the refugee deal arrived between Turkey and the EU on March 18 this year. Under this agreement, Turkey agreed to accept migrants returned from Greece, an arrangement which led to a considerable decrease in the use of the irregular migration route over the Aegean. The EU committed itself to the allocation of an additional sum of 3 million euros for Syrian refugees in Turkey on top of the already agreed 3 million and agreed to resettle one Syrian refugee for each Syrian returned to Turkey from the Aegean islands.

Visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens in accordance with the provisions of “the Roadmap towards a Visa-free Regime with Turkey” was targeted to enter into implementation in June this year but could not be realized due to the 5 criteria yet to be fulfilled by Turkey. One of these criteria, the revision of anti-terror legislation, proved to be a major stumbling block in the process since Turkey was not in a position to make any revisions to its legislation in view of its intensive fight against three terror organizations; PKK, ISIS and Fethullah Terror Organization. Owing to the gravity of the terror threat against Turkey emanating from the above-mentioned organizations, the EU should adopt a more lenient approach towards Turkey regarding the evaluation of the fulfilment of the visa liberalisation criteria. It should not be forgotten that Turkey’s security is a necessary and indispensable aspect of overall European security.

The situation regarding the remaining criteria for visa liberalisation has not changed since then and the October 2016 deadline envisaged by the parties at the time of the November 29 action plan is also being missed. It should be highlighted that Turkey continues to fulfil its part of the March 18 Refugee Statement which led to a significant decrease in the number of illegal entries to the EU through the Aegean route. One of the pillars of the refugee agreement between Turkey and the EU rested on visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens. Turkey had already fulfilled 65 of the 72 criteria stipulated in the Roadmap towards a visa-free Regime with Turkey. The intensive cooperation between Turkey and the EU on the refugee issue revitalised Turkey and EU relations in the recent period. Visa liberalisation and Turkey’s reforms in order to fulfil the related criteria was one of the most important manifestations of this revitalisation. The missing of the deadline for visa liberalisation places the future of refuge cooperation between Turkey and the EU in danger. It is also worrying in view of the overall condition of Turkey and EU relations. If visa liberalisation is not achieved in the near future the EU risks losing its relevance in Turkey and its position as an anchor for reforms.

Ayhan Zeytinoglu
IKV Chairman