Turkish daily Sabah (09.05.16) reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the EU visa liberalization deal would speed up negotiations with Turkey and called on the EU to show a more determined stance in the fight against terrorism.
Along with Erdogan’s remarks, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bilgic also said that Turkey would implement visa liberalization policies in line with Erdogan’s recent statements.
With the debate on visa liberalization for Turkish citizens traveling to the EU’s Schengen zone ongoing, President Erdogan issued a statement yesterday on the occasion of Europe Day in which he said that Turkey’s membership in the EU is a strategic goal and that he hopes the visa liberalization deal with the bloc will accelerate the country’s accession process.
In the official statement, Erdogan praised the EU for embracing democracy, human rights and the rule of law. He then urged the EU to follow a stronger and more consistent foreign policy in these critical times. Explaining that the EU membership is a strategic goal for Turkey, Erdogan further said: “I hope that the visa exemption … will constitute a positive step in fulfilling the promises made and speed up the accession process.”
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Erdogan: “EU membership is Turkey’s strategic goal”
