Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkey has clarified its position on canceling the visa regime with the EU countries.
Turkey cancelled the visa regime for the citizens of all 28 EU countries on May 3, but the visa-free regime will be effective after the EU cancels the visa regime for Turkish citizens, Turkish Ministry for EU Affairs said.
It is expected that after Turkey fulfills all 72 commitments to the EU, the latter will cancel the visa regime for Turkish citizens.
Earlier, Turkish Ministry for EU Affairs told Trend that Ankara has fulfilled 55 out of 72 commitments to the EU for achieving the visa-free regime.
It is expected that the remaining commitments will be fulfilled soon, said the ministry.
After cancelling the visa regime, Turkish citizens will be able to stay without visa for three months in the following countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.
Earlier, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said that the EU may introduce a visa-free regime with Turkey in the autumn of 2016, if Ankara implements all the necessary requirements.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that full membership in the EU continues to remain a priority for Turkey.
The Association Agreement between the EU and Turkey was signed in 1963. Ankara filed an application for the EU membership in 1987, but the negotiations on Ankara's accession to the EU started only in 2005.
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