The European Parliament voted to lift the visa requirement for Georgian citizens regarding short stays in the Schengen area. Although visa-free travel for Georgian citizens will be realized only after the approval of the Council of the EU and the entry into force of the suspension mechanism allowing for the temporary reintroduction of visas, the approval of the related legislation by the EP constitutes an important and vital step in the process.

The Chairman of Economic Development Foundation (IKV), Ayhan Zeytinoğlu commented on the positive development regarding visa waiver for Georgian citizens and stated that Turkish citizens also await a similar decision by the EP:

“The approval by the EP of the law lifting the visa requirement for Georgian citizens entering the Schengen area for short stays is a positive development for our neighbour Georgia. In fact it created jubilation among Georgians who celebrated the EP’s approval by lighting up the Tbilisi TV Tower and Peace Bridge in the colours of the EU flag. We expect a similar development regarding visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens in the near future”.

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu noted that Turkey had already fulfilled most of the criteria for visa liberalisation and that the European Commission recommended the lifting of the visa requirement in its May 4 report:

“Turkey made an extensive effort to fulfil the criteria embodied in the visa liberalisation roadmap leading to the recommendation of the European Commission to lift the visa requirement for Turkish citizens in May last year. There are still remaining hurdles, especially regarding the revision of the anti-terror legislation in Turkey in line with Council of Europe guidelines. These remaining conditions could be swiftly overcome in the next couple of months upon the joint endeavour of the parties. It should not be forgotten that Turkey complied with its commitments under the March 18 EU-Turkey Statement regarding the control of irregular migration over the Aegean. Turkey has been providing protection to 3 million Syrian refugees and supporting their societal integration and entry into the labour market. One of the conditions of the Turkey-EU Statement was visa-free travel for Turkish citizens until June 2016. It is high-time to deliver on this target which will have a reinvigorating impact on Turkey-EU relations as a whole and rekindle the lost trust and sympathy between the parties.”

“We find it extremely difficult to accept the visa requirement for the citizens of a country which is in a customs union with the EU for 21 years and a candidate negotiating accession to the EU for 11 years.”

Ayhan Zeytinoğlu also noted the importance of visa-free travel for the impending modernisation of the Turkey-EU customs union:

“Turkey and the EU are about to start formal negotiations over the modernisation of the Turkey-EU customs union, which is in force since 1996 regarding industrial products. We find it extremely difficult to accept the visa requirement for the citizens of a country which is in a customs union with the EU for 21 years and a candidate negotiating accession to the EU for 11 years. It constitutes a barrier to entry in to the Schengen area for short stays for cultural, touristic or business purposes. A business person who wishes to conduct a meeting with his/her counterpart in a Schengen state has to apply to the related Consulate a considerable time before the meeting, supply various documents including company information and bank statements, and pay a sum of 60 euros excluding the additional costs such as notary fees. If this person is residing in a provincial city, he/she has to travel to cities like Istanbul or Ankara where Consulates are located. All of this process is costly, time-consuming and frustrating. The modernisation of the customs union entails its expansion into agriculture, services and public procurement sectors. Visa waiver will acquire a new urgency if and when the customs union incorporates services sectors since by definition the human element takes priority in the provision of services. We hope that we will not wait until the end of the customs union modernization talks for the lifting of the visa barrier”.

Ayhan Zeytinoğlu
IKV Chairman