Just before the upcoming EP elections, which are expected to bring major changes both in the Parliament, and in the European Commission, the Parliament approved a series of decisions. Without a doubt, one of the most prominent decisions was the increase in the amount of the Schengen visa application fee, to which nationals of many non-EU countries, including Turkey, are subjected to. The new rule was approved on 17 April 2019, and foresees the visa fee to be increased from 60 euros to 80 euros.

Turkish citizens are already facing harsh economic challenges resulting from the Schengen visa application process. In fact, according to IKV’s calculations, in 2017, Turkish citizens paid 58,302,600 euros in total for visa applications. IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu issued a statement regarding the matter: 

“The decision we find the most unfortunate in the new Schengen visa regulation is the increase of visa fees from 60 euros to 80 euros. Turkey is a candidate country to the EU and is in a visa liberalisation dialogue with the EU, yet we are still left alone with new regulations that complicate the visa process. This is unacceptable to us.  Considering the additional expenses, such as translation fees, service charges, and international travel insurance expenses, Turkish citizens are already facing critical challenges when traveling to EU countries. An additional increase in payments would harm building cultural bridges among Turkish and EU citizens, influence the interaction between Turkish academics and Turkish NGOs, and their counterparts in the EU negatively.”

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu also commented on the regulation that would allow for a more flexible visa application process:

“Within the current system, Turkish citizens can start their visa application to Schengen countries three months before their scheduled travel the earliest. Under the new regulation, they will be able to start the procedure six months before their scheduled travel date. While we welcome this change in a positive manner, we do not find it sufficient, as the main procedural challenges faced by Turkish citizens are late replies to applications, and the fact that they cannot apply for a visa in short notice.

Events and meetings organised by the business world, and by academic circles/NGOs, that are scheduled to take place in the EU, are planned in much shorter time compared to the past.  Hence, the inability to apply for a visa in short notice results in major injustice. If there is to be flexibility in visa applications, these problems should be covered as well.”

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu concluded his statement by highlighting the fact that the new updates on this matter cannot be addressed independent from the visa liberalisation dialogue. He added: “It is important to keep in mind that in recent years Turkey has taken important steps for the realisation of its goal of a visa-free Europe, and has often maintained a successful cooperation with the European Commission. It is essential to end the process on a high note in order to establish intercommunal cooperation, as well as mutual understanding. Turkey has implemented countless reforms in many areas, ranging from reforms in border and document security and amendments in current regulations to strengthening of institutional infrastructure, reforms in data security and in readmission mechanisms.  

The new resolution, approved by the EP yesterday, jeopardises not only the visa liberalisation dialogue, but also the current visa process due to possible complications in irregular migration, and readmission. At this point, it is important to remind the importance of Turkey in terms of Europe’s border security. We expect the EU to approach its visa relations with Turkey with a focus on rights and economic/political cooperation, rather than a focus on security.”