European commissioner says member states should simplify visa procedures

ISTANBUL (A.A) - The European Commissioner for enlargement and neighborhood policy said late on Thursday that member states should simplify visa procedures for Turkey. Stefan Fule said that he thought member states should take short-term measures and simplify visa process for Turkey. Fule said he knew Turkish business world was impatient about visa. They would focus on Customs Union and make it more efficient, Fule said during the Conference on "Turkey-EU: Common Interests Revisited" organized in Istanbul by the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON) and European Policy Center. Fule said Turkey had a historic opportunity to raise its constitution modern and democratic standards and to protect all citizens and take their freedom and living styles under guarantee The commissioner said four political parties should work in solidarity, and they were doing so, and noted that non-governmental organizations were supporting the process.  Fule underlined vital importance of freedom of expression in modern democracy, and Turkish Justice Ministry and the European Commission would work together as of January 2012 to improve freedom of expression and press.  The EU also aimed to boost cooperation in fight against terrorism, Fule also said. Also speaking in the meeting, European Commissioner for trade Karel De Gucht said Europe continued to increase its direct foreign investments in Turkey, and ambitious Turkish investors had entered European market. De Gucht said the best way to cut down current account deficit in Turkey was a deeper integration to EU's economy.