EU says visa liberalisation for Turkey will benefit all

BRUSSELS, May 11 (KUNA) -- Dutch Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert whose country holds the current EU Presidency said Wednesday that lifting the Schengen visa requirements for Turkish "is not just a present to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or a concession." Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this evening she said it is "something from which we all will benefit, millions of European tourists and millions of Turks, including human rights activists." The Dutch minister, however, recognized that "Turkey has a lot of homework to do." On his part, EU Commissioner for migration and home affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos also acknowledged that Turkey still needed to make progress, but said he was "optimistic" that Ankara would "give a final push" to the necessary reforms by the end of June.
"We are not watering down our standards", he told the EP.
Meanwhile, EP President Martin Schulz said Wednesday that he did not send the draft legislation on visa liberalization for Turkey that the European Commission sent to him on 4 May to the relevant EP committees as Turkey has not fulfilled the necessary conditions.
On his part Turkish minister for EU affairs Volkan Bozkir after meeting Schulz in Strasbourg said Wednesday it is "completely impossible" to change his country's anti-terror law, a condition for visa liberalisation.
He explained the reasons saying "more than 450 security officers killed by PKK terrorism." (end) nk.ibi