Turkey’s give and take with EU on visa policy
Ankara has started uphill talks with the EU on visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in return for agreeing to take back immigrants who illegally enter the EU via Turkey.
Hit by adverse winds during the Arab Spring, Turkey suffered serious setbacks in foreign relations over the past three years. Ankara is trying to open new maneuvering room for itself, taking the Armenia and Cyprus files down from the shelf. The most significant move, however, came with the European Union.
At a ceremony in Ankara on Dec. 16, Turkey and the EU signed the Readmission Agreement, which was the biggest obstacle in the way of a visa-free travel for Turks in the Schengen zone. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bagis and EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom attended the ceremony.
