ID :
163470
Wed, 02/23/2011 - 17:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/163470
The shortlink copeid
EU interior ministers to debate readmission agreement with Turkey
BRUSSELS (A.A) - 23.02.2011 - The justice and home affairs ministers of European Union (EU) member states will discuss readmission agreement with Turkey.
The ministers are expected to ratify the agreement. Turkey and the EU completed negotiations on the agreement last month.
However, ministers are having a difference of opinion about making a decision that will meet Turkey's visa expectations.
Ankara expects the EU to allow Turkish citizens to travel to member states without visa in a gradual way. To this end, EU member states have to authorize the European Commission to carry out negotiations with Turkey to lift visa procedures.
The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, France and Greek Cypriot administration object to this view, which is also backed by European Commissioner for internal affairs Cecilia Malmstrom.
Some of the mentioned countries even object to facilitating visa procedures for Turkish citizens.
After negotiations on readmission agreement were completed, Malmstrom had told reporters that the decision was offering new perspectives to boost cooperation with Turkey in visa policy and some other areas.
Turkey will shoulder a heavy burden like extradition of hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants who sneak into EU countries via its territories. Therefore, it does not think of implementing the agreement if its visa demands are not met.
The EU, which has launched visa free travel with all candidate and potential candidate countries except Kosovo so far, is negotiating with its neighbors including Russia, Ukraine and Moldova to lift visa procedures.
EU's visa facilitation agreement with Georgia will take effect next month.
Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Makau, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela and Belize are countries to which EU does not apply visa.
The ministers are expected to ratify the agreement. Turkey and the EU completed negotiations on the agreement last month.
However, ministers are having a difference of opinion about making a decision that will meet Turkey's visa expectations.
Ankara expects the EU to allow Turkish citizens to travel to member states without visa in a gradual way. To this end, EU member states have to authorize the European Commission to carry out negotiations with Turkey to lift visa procedures.
The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, France and Greek Cypriot administration object to this view, which is also backed by European Commissioner for internal affairs Cecilia Malmstrom.
Some of the mentioned countries even object to facilitating visa procedures for Turkish citizens.
After negotiations on readmission agreement were completed, Malmstrom had told reporters that the decision was offering new perspectives to boost cooperation with Turkey in visa policy and some other areas.
Turkey will shoulder a heavy burden like extradition of hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants who sneak into EU countries via its territories. Therefore, it does not think of implementing the agreement if its visa demands are not met.
The EU, which has launched visa free travel with all candidate and potential candidate countries except Kosovo so far, is negotiating with its neighbors including Russia, Ukraine and Moldova to lift visa procedures.
EU's visa facilitation agreement with Georgia will take effect next month.
Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Makau, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela and Belize are countries to which EU does not apply visa.
