The EU is focusing on ironing out problems and facilitating visa access for Turkish citizens, according to its ambassador to Ankara, stressing that the bloc has as much interest in fostering the exchange of people as Turkiye.
Many Turkish citizens have been facing problems in securing visas, such as increased scrutiny of applications and months of waiting to get an appointment, hampering essential movement of businesspeople, academics, students and others.
“The EU has as much interest in furthering the exchange of people as Turkiye. We want Turkish businessmen to come to Europe. We want Turkish students to study at European universities, and we want to facilitate the people-to-people exchange,” Thomas Hans Ossowski, the EU envoy to Turkiye, told Anadolu.
He said diplomatic missions of EU member states are facing a “congestion problem,” but asserted that the bloc is “working on very concrete steps on how to ease the pressure on consulates and embassies of EU member states.”
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Ossowski pointed out that Turkish citizens received the second-highest number of Schengen visas last year after China, reiterating that the EU is making “a major effort” to address the issue.
However, the envoy said the “falsification of documents” and “corrupt practices by private actors and agencies” are adding to the congestion, calling on the Turkish state and business associations to stop the “malpractices.”
‘Turkiye is a very important and trusted NATO ally’
“Turkiye is a very important and trusted NATO ally, and for many, many decades,” said Ossowski.
“We certainly also rely on Turkiye, as a trusted NATO ally, to contribute to our common security.”
He acknowledged that there are “several reasons why cooperation is sometimes impeded,” including the fact that “not all EU member states are recognised by Turkiye.”
“So, there are some obstacles in the way, but I believe with political wisdom, political will, and pragmatism, we can … overcome these problems,” he said.
“We need commitment, solidarity and political will on both sides. We have to do it together. Neither Turkiye nor us can do it alone,” he said.
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