Resmi Gazete, the Turkish state agency, has published a decree of the Cabinet, which lifts visa requirements for the EU citizens. The Directive is to enter into force simultaneously with the EU granting Turkish citizens a visa-free access to the Schengen zone. The decision was based on the law "On Foreigners and International Protection,’’ the document says, RIA Novosti reports.
Thus, Ankara has prepared in advance the necessary legal framework for the key event for the relations with Brussels and the European integration process. It is expected that tomorrow, the European Commission (EC, the executive body of the EU) is to consider the final report on the progress of negotiations with Turkey in terms of visa liberalization. If it is approved, the Schengen visas for Turkish will be canceled by June 30.
At the same time, the European Commission, welcomed the abolishing of Turkish visas for the EU citizens: "Turkey has fulfilled one of the important conditions on the way of visa liberalization,’’ the official representative of the European Commission, Margaritis Shinas said. According to him, Turkey until recently maintained the visa regime with 11 members of the EU, which he did not name.
According to the terms of the agreement with the EU, the Turkish authorities are ready for the visa liberalization and cancellation of visas for Greek Cypriots. However, it does not mean that Ankara recognizes Cyprus, Reuters reports with reference to a source in the Turkish government.
The source confirmed that the new measures will also apply to the Greek Cypriots. "This does not mean the recognition of Cyprus. If the EU to abolish visas for Turkish citizens then we will also cancel visas for other EU countries,’’ he said. According to him, today Greek Cypriots need to obtain a visa to travel to Turkey.
The visa liberalization is a part of the deal, according to which the leaders of the EU and the Prime Minister of Turkey agreed to send back all illegal immigrants arriving via Turkey to Greece. In addition to the visa requirements for Turkish citizens, Ankara will receive €3 billion euros and the EU will start accepting Syrian refugees from Turkey.
Turkey must fulfill 72 EU requirements in order for visas to be cancelled. In the middle of April, the representative of the European Commission reported that Ankara has implemented less than half of the requirements. The most problematic issue for Turkey is the EU claims regarding freedom of expression and fair justice, as well as demands to review the Turkish laws on terrorism in order to protect the rights of minorities.
According to BBC, the implementation of these requirements is unlikely since the Turkish authorities prefer to deal with critics in an undemocratic, autocratic manner. However, in these "desperate times the leadership of the EU countries are under enormous pressure from the public that demands to solve the immigration crisis."
At the same time, the European Commission plans to consider a potential penalty for those countries which refuse to accept refugees, the fine could be set at about €250,000 per person, the Financial Times reports, citing sources familiar with the Commission's plans.
On Wednesday, the European Commission plans to present new proposals to change the current ‘Dublin regulation’ for asylum seekers in the EU.
According to preliminary plans, the European Commission will propose to charge countries that refuse to grant temporary asylum, but this option remains controversial.
