Diplomatic contacts continue for a facilitating and accelerating approach to visa applications of business people, academics, artists and students. Faster finalization of visa applications is on the agenda in 2024.
The problems faced by those who apply for visas to EU countries for their work, interviews, education and meetings other than touristic visits are about to be overcome.
According to information from diplomatic sources, bilateral and multilateral negotiations are being held with the EU and EU member states in order to facilitate and accelerate the applications of groups such as business people, academics, students, artists and members of the media without prejudice to the goal of “visa liberalization” in relations with the EU.
Officials interviewed by the EKONOMİ daily newspaper gave the following information on this issue: “We expect visa application processes to be finalized faster in 2024, and this is most likely to happen because some progress has already been made. For example, they have reduced the application and appointment processes from 3-4 weeks to 2 weeks in some places.”
The report on Turkey prepared by Josep Borrel, High Representative of the EU for Common Foreign and Security Policy, who was cautiously optimistic about the revival of EU-Turkey relations, was published on November 29, 2023. The report could not be discussed at the December 14-15 meeting of the European Council due to the prolonged Ukraine agenda.
Regarding the Borrel report, officials said:
“We have also taken note of the Borrell report. The European Union is in the process of conducting a due diligence on Turkey, and the European President’s call for the revitalization of relations with the European Union in Vilnius was also effective in coming up with these recommendations in the report. Implementation of the recommendations in the report as soon as possible would be an important first step in Turkey-EU relations. We expect all EU institutions to take swift and concrete steps in this direction.
“We are expressing our expectations on the modernization of the Customs Union with our relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and EU officials, both in ministerial-level contacts and as technical delegations, and we expect the technical negotiations on this issue to start without preconditions, and we expect the commission to be authorized for this.”
