Commission presents its third visa liberalisation progress report for Turkey

Met dank overgenomen van Europese Commissie (EC) i, gepubliceerd op woensdag 4 mei 2016.

The news:

The Commission will present its third visa liberalisation progress report for Turkey on 4 May (*). If Turkey takes the necessary measures to fulfil the remaining benchmarks, the report will be accompanied by a legislative proposal for transferring Turkey to the visa-free list.

The background:

On 18 March 2016, EU i Heads of State or Government and Turkey agreed to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU i and replace it instead with legal channels of resettlement of refugees to the European Union. The agreement took effect as of 20 March 2016, and 4 April 2016 was set as the target date for the start of returns of people arriving in Greece after 20 March and of the first resettlements.

As a part of the EU-Turkey statement of 18 March, it was agreed amongst others that the fulfilment of the visa liberalisation roadmap, originally foreseen for the autumn of 2016, would be accelerated. The aim is to lift the visa requirements for Turkish citizens at the latest by the end of June 2016. Turkey agreed to take all the necessary steps to fulfil the remaining requirements.

A first report on progress by Turkey in fulfilling the requirements of its visa liberalisation roadmap was published on 20 October 2014 and a second report on 4 March 2016.

The event:

4 May 2016: the European Commission will present its third visa liberalisation progress report for Turkey. Media arrangements will be announced closer to the event. Available on EbS

The sources:

EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March

Second Report on progress by Turkey in fulfilling the requirements of its visa liberalisation roadmap

(*) The planning of possible items for the agenda of the College of Commissioners is indicative and may be subject to changes.

AGENDA/16/1509

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