

EU Envoy Calls for Swift Progress on Visa Liberalisation with Türkiye
EU Envoy Presses for Restart of Visa Liberalisation Talks with Türkiye
The European Union’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Thomas Ossowski, has strongly criticised the lack of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens, calling the current situation “unsustainable” and “unacceptable.”
“Consulates are overwhelmed with visa requests. People are waiting months, even up to a year, for appointments. This is not acceptable for the kind of strategic relationship we seek with Türkiye,” Ossowski said.
Talks on Visa Liberalisation Stalled Since 2016
Visa liberalisation discussions between Türkiye and the EU began in 2016. While Türkiye fulfilled 66 out of 72 required benchmarks, progress has stalled in recent years. Ambassador Ossowski called on Ankara to resume negotiations, stating, “We have made a sincere offer to the Turkish government to restart the process.”
Türkiye Behind Kosovo in Visa-Free Access
Ossowski expressed frustration that Türkiye, despite being an EU candidate country, still lacks visa-free access to the Schengen Area. “Even Kosovo, which is not recognised by several EU member states, has it,” he remarked, highlighting the imbalance.
He emphasized that Kosovo, though a young and fragile state, secured visa-free status as of January 1, 2024, allowing its citizens to stay in the EU for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. “Türkiye, a strong state with a capable bureaucracy, deserves the same treatment,” he added.
Türkiye Calls for Change
Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also called on the EU to revise its visa policies, echoing growing frustration within Türkiye over long waiting times and bureaucratic hurdles for Schengen visa applications.
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