EU to present road map to Turkey for visas

STRASBOURG – Anatolia News Agency

EU Minister Egemen Bağış had worn a tie with turtle figure. AA photo

The European Union will present a roadmap on visa free travel to Turkey, free of “political maneuvers,” in the coming weeks, EU Minister Egemen Bağış has said in Strasbourg.

Bağış told reporters on Nov. 20 that during his meeting with European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström, she had promised to present Turkey a roadmap that would end with visa-free travel to Europe.

“The EU has some expectations from Turkey. Turkey has some expectations from the EU too. Our primary expectation is the removal of these illegal, unjust, and irrational visas,” said Bağış, adding that Ankara would evaluate the road map as soon as received it and would negotiate it with the EU Commission.

Bağış noted that Malmström had pledged that the road map will not include “political maneuvers” and instead only include objective criteria.

Turtle tie
He also said he had worn a tie with turtle figure to give a message to the EU that Turkey’s accession process was slow. He said if the EU’s attitude changes during the Ireland’s term presidency, then he may wear a tie with Turkish Airlines logo.

Bağış also said European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle had sent a letter of gratitude to Ankara for the steps taken to meet the criteria for closing four chapters.