Visa regime abolition between EU, Turkey unlikely – former PM
Cancellation of visa regime between the EU and Turkey in October 2016 is unlikely, former Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus Hakki Atun said Dec.10 in an exclusive interview with Trend.
He said that the EU requires Turkey to fulfill 72 articles to cancel visa regime, which says that the EU is insincere towards Ankara.
Hakki Atun said that the main reason for the refusal of the EU to accept Turkey is the issue of Northern Cyprus, which is discussed at almost all meetings between the representatives of the EU and Turkey.
Earlier, Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu said that visa-free regime with the European Union for the citizens of Turkey will be launched in October 2016.
“Full membership in the EU continues to remain a priority for Turkey,” Davutoglu said.
The Association Agreement between the EU and Turkey was signed
in 1963. Ankara filed application for the EU membership in 1987.
The negotiations on Ankara’s joining the EU started only in
2005.
The negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus resumed in February
2014 after two years’ break.
Although Turkey annually conducts a series of reforms for the EU membership, Ankara still cannot become a full member of the European Union.
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