Turkey hints review of migrant deal if visa exemption fails
ANKARA: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has criticised the EU’s slow pace in granting visa exemption for Turkish citizens, hinting that Turkey will take steps regarding the migration deal struck with the EU last year, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
“We see that the European Union has been stalling us. But our patience is not unlimited.
“Our citizens also have expectations. If visa liberation does not come, we will take steps regarding the migration deal,” Cavusoglu said, quoted by Hurriyet Daily News.
He said Turkey has so far met the requirements of the migrant deal, calling on the EU not to stall, otherwise Ankara “will take necessary measures.”
Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik said on Monday that “Turkey should re-evaluate the issue of land crossings” under the migrant deal with the EU.
“Turkey has no obligation at this stage to continue the agreement as the EU has failed to comply with it,” Celik said.
In the Turkey-EU migration deal signed last year, Turkey agreed to work to keep migrants from crossing into the EU in return for a 6-billion-euro (US$6.8 billion) aid package to support some 3 million refugees hosted in the country.
The agreement also included the acceleration of Turkey’s EU membership bid and visa-free travel for Turkish nationals within the Schengen area.