EU backs conditional visa-free travel for Turkish citizens

The European Commission has given its conditional support to lifting visa requirements for Turkish citizens.

“The European Commission is today proposing to ... lift the visa requirements for the citizens of Turkey,” European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager stated in a message posted on Twitter on Wednesday.

The Turkish government fulfills "as a matter of urgency" criteria set by the European Union, the tweet included.

Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the European Commission, said Turkey has made significant progress on meeting the benchmarks of its visa liberalization roadmap, adding, "There is still work to be done as a matter of urgency but if Turkey sustains the progress made, they can meet the remaining benchmarks."

Timmermans also stated that the European Commission would recommend that if Ankara meets the remaining criteria, the EU member states and the European Parliament should approve the Turkish visa plan.

"There is no free ride here, and we are clear about what remains to be done," he added.

The European Parliament and EU member states must still approve the visa waiver after it clears the commission. The plan is expected to be endorsed by June 30.

According to a document adopted by the European Commission, visa-free travel will apply to all EU member states except for Ireland and Britain, who have their own visa requirements, and to the four Schengen-associated countries namely, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

“The exemption concerns only short stays of up to 90 days (in any 180-day period) for business, tourist or family purposes, among others. The visa exemption does not provide for the right to work in the EU,” the document said.

Turkish citizens will be required to “prove their purpose of travel and sufficient subsidence means” for accessing the Schengen area.

In March, Turkey and the EU sealed a controversial deal intended to stem the flow of refugees into Europe in return for financial and political rewards for Ankara.

Under the agreement, the EU will take in thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey and reward it with money, visa exemption and progress in its EU membership negotiations.

Turkey has been required to meet 72 conditions, ranging from biometric passports to respect for human rights, by May 4 to gain visa liberalization for its 79 million Turkish nationals to the Schengen area by the end of June.

The government in Ankara has so far faced widespread condemnation over its crackdown on critical media outlets, lawmakers, scholars, lawyers and NGOs.

Visa-free travel for Turkish nationals is a contested issue as some EU states fear it would open the doors to more migration to the bloc, which is already struggling with an unprecedented influx of refugees who are fleeing conflict-ridden zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.

Many blame major European powers for the unprecedented exodus, saying their policies have led to a surge in terrorism and war in the violence-hit regions, forcing more people out of their homes.

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