(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
A Turkish lawmaker presented a report highlighting the mounting
difficulties Turkish citizens face obtaining visas from European
Union countries to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE). The report, which will be discussed at the assembly,
points out that the rate of denial for Turks applying for Schengen
visas rose to 12.7% in 2020, from only 4% in 2014, Trend reports citing Hurriyet Daily
News .
Turkish media outlets, which released details about the
development, say Türkiye filed an objection to PACE over the“abuse
of the Schengen visa system” by member countries. The report,
presented to PACE by lawmaker Ziya Altunyaldız from the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AK Party), raises objections to the
“unnecessary and large amount of paperwork required for visas” and
complains about high fees and the requirement the applications be
submitted in-person. A PACE committee approved the report which
will be classified as a“recommendation” by the assembly for member
states, according to the Hurriyet newspaper.
The report says Schengen zone countries effectively deny access
to individuals and that the Schengen information system should have
common, minimum standards.“Use of data in the system should not
violate human rights, privacy and freedom of travel,” it says. The
report cites the challenges experienced especially by
businesspeople,“who face problems although they prove the accuracy
of the purpose of their trips, the place of accommodation and their
means of transportation.” It calls to prevent private information
from being used against individuals applying for visas 'based on
political motives' and to end practices that stop individuals from
attending cultural, social and scientific activities.
Türkiye has been striving to join the European Union for decades
and seeks a visa liberalization deal with the bloc. So far, it has
completed 65 of the 72 criteria required to launch the visa
liberalization process which would allow Turkish citizens with
biometric passports to enter Europe's Schengen area for stays of up
to 90 days within a 180-day period without requiring a visa. In
March 2016, Ankara and Brussels signed an agreement to reduce the
number of migrants taking the dangerous Aegean Sea route to Europe
and find a solution for the influx of migrants heading to EU
countries. According to the deal, Türkiye was promised a total of 6
billion euros ($7.30 billion) in financial aid. It was initially
designed to be given to the country in two stages and used by the
Turkish government to finance projects for Syrian migrants. Visa
freedom for Turkish citizens was also part of the agreement. In
addition, the EU-Türkiye Customs Union was to be updated. In
exchange for these promises, Türkiye took responsibility for
discouraging migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter
measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of
Syrian migrants living in Türkiye. Despite its significant efforts
to stem the migration, Türkiye has frequently noted that the EU has
not fully delivered on its commitments stated in the deal and
criticized the international community for its indifference to the
migrant crisis.
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