Türkiye Renews Push for Schengen Visa Liberalisation Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Türkiye has reaffirmed its firm stance against allowing Greek Cypriot vessels access to its ports, even if it comes at the cost of potential Schengen visa facilitation for Turkish businesspeople. In a statement reported by Daily Sabah, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli dismissed recent media claims as “unfounded” and reiterated that Türkiye's position regarding the Greek Cypriot administration remains unchanged.

Ongoing Stalemate in Schengen Negotiations

Formal negotiations between the European Union and Türkiye on Schengen visa liberalisation began in December 2013. While the process showed signs of progress during the migration crisis in 2015 and 2016, it has since stalled due to persistent disagreements and Türkiye’s failure to fulfill all the necessary criteria.

Foreign Minister Fidan Calls for Acceleration

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has voiced strong criticism over the EU's restrictive visa practices. He called for immediate action to resolve the Schengen visa bottleneck, describing the current system as outdated and inadequate to handle growing demand. Minister Fidan also highlighted the consistently high visa rejection rates Turkish citizens face, calling into question EU member states’ claims of generous visa issuance.

“The visa process should disappear,” Fidan stated, emphasizing the need for a more equitable and efficient system.

EU Ambassador: Schengen Visa Reform a Priority

In response to rising concerns, EU Ambassador to Türkiye, Thomas Ossowski, acknowledged the pressing issues Turkish citizens face when applying for Schengen visas. He stressed that reducing wait times and improving access is one of his top priorities. Ossowski noted that he is actively working with both EU member states and Turkish authorities to address these challenges.

However, he also pointed out that Türkiye must fulfill the remaining six criteria outlined in the visa liberalisation roadmap in order to move the process forward.