QA-35, 20 October 2014, Statement of the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tanju Bilgiç in Response to a Question Regarding the First Report published by the European Commission within the framework of the EU-Turkey Visa Liberalization Dialogue

The first report on the implementation of the Roadmap in the context of the Visa Liberalization Dialogue between Turkey and the EU, launched on 16 December 2013 in Ankara, was published by the EU Commission on 20 October 2014.

The report, which constitutes an important step in the process of visa liberalization for our citizens, includes the EU assessment on our legislation, administrative structures, practices and capacity as well as recommendations and additional regulations that are expected to be carried out. We carefully note the issues covered in the report. Reporting process will continue in the forthcoming period.

In order to ensure that Turkish citizens are provided with visa exemption as soon as possible, our efforts will continue in close cooperation with all our relevant institutions, particularly the Ministry of Interior, Ministry for European Affairs and Ministry of Justice.

We bring it to the attention of our European counterparts on every occasion that we expect the EU to handle the Visa Liberalization Dialogue in a fair and result-oriented manner.