| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2014) 646 final (20.10.14) |
| Publication Date | 20/10/2014 |
| Content Type | Policy-making, Report |
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On 21 June 2012, when Turkish authorities initialled the text of the EU-Turkey readmission agreement they had been negotiating with the European Commission since 2005, the Council of the European Union adopted conclusions in which it invited the European Commission ‘in parallel to the signature of the readmission agreement between Turkey and the EU, to take steps towards visa liberalisation as a gradual and long-term perspective’. The European Parliament also recommended this approach to the Commission in its resolution of 18 April 2013 on the 2012 progress report on Turkey. The EU-Turkey readmission agreement was signed on 16 December 2013. In parallel, the EU and Turkey launched a visa liberalisation dialogue. The aim of this dialogue is to move towards ending the visa requirement for Turkish citizens travelling to the Schengen area for a short-term visit. While the dialogue is underway, the European Commission is examining relevant Turkish legislation and administrative practices. This is done on the basis of the ‘Roadmap towards the visa-free regime with Turkey’, a document produced by the Commission in close consultation with relevant experts from EU Member States. It sets out the benchmarks the Commission will use to decide whether and when it will be appropriate to propose to the Council and the European Parliament that the visa requirement currently imposed on Turkish citizens be lifted, by amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001. The requirements in the Roadmap are grouped into five blocks: document security, migration management, public order and security, fundamental rights and readmission of irregular migrants. The Commission will report regularly to the Council and the Parliament on Turkey’s progress in fulfilling the Roadmap requirements. These reports will also serve as guidance to the Turkish authorities on the specific areas which need to be addressed. In order to prepare this first report, the Commission carried out several visits to Turkey between 16 March and 20 June 2014 to collect information on legislation and procedures in the areas covered by the Roadmap. The Commission was assisted by the EU Delegation in Turkey, and by experts from EU Member States and the relevant EU agencies (Frontex, Europol, EASO). This report examines the state of play and progress under every benchmark and provides the Commission’s assessment on whether Turkey fulfils the requirements set out in the roadmap. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2014:646:FIN |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe, Turkey |
