Turkey’s
EU minister doubts visa deal: report
Volkan
Bozkir: Hope of getting visa free-travel to Europe for Turks are
‘getting less and less.’
By ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH
5/12/16, 9:03 AM CET
Turkey is losing
hope it will reach an agreement for visa-free travel to Europe, the
country’s minister for European Union affairs told the BBC on
Wednesday.
The main obstacle is
the EU’s insistence on Turkey narrowing its definition of
terrorism, something the country won’t to do, Volkan Bozkir said.
He told the BBC that
his hopes of getting visa free-travel to Europe for Turkish nationals
were “getting less and less.”
The deal was offered
in return for Turkey taking back refugees who crossed the Aegean Sea
to Greece. It was expected to go into effect as early as the end of
June.
Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
(unseen) listens on, during a joint news conference, on November 13,
2015 in Istanbul.
Earlier this month,
the European Commission recommended lifting visa requirements for
Turkish citizens saying that Ankara has fulfilled the majority of 72
conditions. The European Parliament, however, is refusing to vote
until all the criteria are met.
The EU and human
rights groups say Turkey uses its broad anti-terror definition to
stifle dissent in the country, which has become increasingly
authoritarian. Turkey denies that, and claims the laws are needed to
fight terrorist groups.
Authors:
Zoya Sheftalovich
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