EU Ambassador Pushes for Renewed Schengen Visa Liberalisation Talks with Türkiye

The European Union's Ambassador to Türkiye, Thomas Ossowski, has called for a swift restart to visa liberalisation negotiations, stressing that the ongoing situation—where Turkish citizens lack visa-free access to the Schengen Area—is no longer sustainable or acceptable.

Speaking at a recent event, Ossowski noted that EU consulates in Türkiye are overwhelmed with visa requests, with applicants often waiting months for appointments. “This delays mobility, damages trust, and hampers strategic cooperation,” he said. “It’s simply not acceptable that Turkish citizens face such obstacles, especially when Türkiye is an official EU candidate country.”

Talks Stalled Since 2016

Visa liberalisation talks between the EU and Türkiye began in 2016, with Türkiye expected to meet 72 specific benchmarks. While the country has fulfilled 66, progress has stalled in recent years. Ossowski confirmed that the EU has now presented a “clear and honest offer” to the Turkish government to restart discussions and move toward meeting the remaining criteria.

Türkiye Lags Behind Kosovo in Visa-Free Access

The Ambassador compared Türkiye’s status to that of Kosovo, which gained visa-free access to the Schengen Area on January 1, 2024, despite not being officially recognised by five EU member states and lacking formal candidate status.

“It is unacceptable that Kosovo citizens can travel freely to the EU while Turkish nationals cannot,” Ossowski said. “Türkiye is a strong and stable nation with a well-developed administrative system. It deserves equal treatment.”

Erdogan Presses EU for Action

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also recently urged the European Union to review and ease Schengen visa procedures for Turkish nationals, calling the existing system discriminatory.

As visa liberalisation talks gain renewed political momentum, both sides are expected to re-engage in discussions that could eventually allow Turkish passport holders to travel to the EU for short stays without a visa—up to 90 days within a 180-day period.