BAGIS WROTE FOR DER STANDARD

Der Standard newspaper published an article of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis where he made evaluations on the fact that the visa regime applied to Turkish citizens has not been lifted yet.

Bagis said the following in his article:

“Turkey has been an official membership candidate to the EU not along ago. Since the visa requirement for the EU was lifted for the Western Balkan countries in 2009 and 2010, Turkey is the only candidate country, whose citizens are still subject to visas. Even remote countries which have not any interest or expectation for the accession to the EU are exempted from Schengen visa.

Visa rules, that Turkish citizens are subject to, lead to a cumbersome and too- costly admission procedure. Moreover, even in the positive resulting, they feel disturbed by inappropriate behaviours. This attitude and policy of EU member states are perceived as double standards and reinforces a sense of alienation from the union

Turkey has benefitted from a variety of legal claims that emerged from long-standing relationship and Association Agreement; and is a member of the Customs Union under the Ankara Agreement. All these rights are recognized by the European Court of Justice and national courts of the member states.

Turkey has a stable and dynamic economic growth and has a well-functioning democracy in the last decade. Turkey has a key position in the regional fight against current global economic crisis, thanks to its booming economy and increasing foreign trade volume. Owing to this positive economic outlook and the political stability, increasing number of Turkish citizens are returning to their homeland from European countries where they have made substantial contributions to the welfare for years.

On the other hand, European countries are facing a severe economic crisis. If the humiliating visa procedures are lifted, these countries can make economic and social use of increasing number of Turkish visitors

Turkey is experiencing difficult times with regard to accession negotiations with the EU, and visa procedures are the main issues on which concrete steps should be taken. This is a key point to build confidence among all parties in terms of keeping negotiations on track. Lifting visa procedures is a must to keep alive the public opinion and interest in Turkey about accession to the EU

Turkey has earned visa-free travel conditions for its citizens. Facilitating visa regime evidently should be deemed as a temporary gesture of goodwill, which is easily perceivable in a worldwide comparison. In this sense, recommendations on the regulation regarding visa procedures of the European Commission, which should accelerate the accession negotiations, are based on the legal principles and obligations of the EU and its member states.

In order to reach this target with all obligations, Turkey has taken measures to meet necessary conditions for visa-free travel within the EU--including the issuance of biometric passports and preparations for the Integrated Border Management (IBM) system.  Negotiations on re-admission agreements with the EU have been concluded with the provisions, which were clarified in detail in the last decade.

Turkey has not signed the re-admission agreement so far because of the European Council's stance that has postponed permission on a negotiation on visa exemption of Turkish citizens.

When this authority is given, Turkey will consent to the re-admission agreement. In this context, we expect the EU and member states to take right and logical steps and launch negotiations on free movement without any delay. The EU provides substantial funding for the accession process through the projects yet it continues to create barriers and even hamper free movement right, which is setting psychological barriers in the minds and hearts of Turkish people against the EU.

Source: http://derstandard.at/1334796240942/Egemen-Bagis-Wider-das-Visa-Regime-der-EU