Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee meets at Turkish Grand National Assembly

The 73rd meeting of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee was held at the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

Speaking at the convention Egemen Bagis, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator said “The European Union should be the destination of friendship without borders, not of confinement.”

Bagis also emphasized that the Turkey-EU relations had gained a new momentum following the new chapter that was opened after three and a half years, the most objective and balanced Progress Report published in the recent years and the latest concrete steps taken in the visa liberalization process.

The Minister went on to say “We can finally say that we got our visa for a visa-free Europe. Turkish citizens will be able to travel to EU countries with no requirement in three to three and a half years.”

Bağış was also reported to say “visa exemption would be a just as effective step as the opening of all chapters in negotiations with the European Commission, and Turkey’s accession to EU”.

The minister stated that all countries who making it difficult for Turkish citizens to get a visa had finally realized that they had been putting themselves in a difficult situation and EU should be the destination of friendship without borders, not of confinement.

According to Bağış Turkey has been following a zero-problem policy with its neighbors and a zero-barrier policy with the EU and visa exemption for Turkish citizens is more than just a wish, it is a right.

05.12.2013
MEDIA