Turkish citizens at consulate doors

During my undergraduate years, there was a prevailing enthusiasm for the European Union in society. At that time, reform packages were being introduced one after another, creating a genuine sense of hope among the educated segment of the country. In my department, Political Science and International Relations, courses like European Integration were among the most popular in the curriculum.

I did not share this EU enthusiasm, but I did take those courses. Currently, I am an academic teaching in the Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Over the past twenty years, I have noticed that for undergraduate students—our students—only two issues regarding the EU remain of primary interest: migration and visas. Of course, no one expects EU enthusiasm under these conditions, but even the weary rhetoric of “Turkey at the gates of the EU” has come to an end, or rather, it has evolved into “Turkish citizens at the doors of consulates/authorized agency offices.”

However, last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' 2025 budget was approved. Addressing the Budget and Planning Committee for this reason, Foreign Minister Fidan summarized Turkish foreign policy as follows: “With a 360-degree foreign policy approach, we have a footprint on every continent. While standing against threats, we are also evaluating opportunities. We are pursuing a foreign policy that is determined in peace, strong in its region, and respected in the world.” Turkey's international prestige can only be a source of pride for us citizens. But one must also ask: Doesn't the ordeal that citizens of this respected country, which follows a “360-degree foreign policy,” go through to obtain a visa seem a bit contradictory to you as well?

I hope starting this article with the EU does not mislead anyone. After all, the issue is not just about the Schengen area. But because we are more engaged with Europe in areas like trade, tourism, and education, the visa regimes of these countries naturally concern us more.

While it is said that there has been an increase in visa rejection rates recently, the fact that the visas granted are short-term is also one of the most discussed issues. On the other hand, if you have managed to reach this stage as a Turkish citizen, you are still lucky. Because anyone who has been involved in visa processes recently knows that there are not even any appointments available.

You have to constantly check at certain times of the day or actively use various “bots.” Or, as seen in the latest cases, you cannot even know the fate of your visa. And you suffer losses. For example, we recently read that students who had been accepted by various educational institutions in Italy—numbering over 900—lost their right to education because their visa applications were not finalized, and for this reason, they held a protest in front of the Italian consulate. Undoubtedly, these examples can be multiplied.

So, why are the citizens of our country, which is said to be pursuing a “360-degree foreign policy,” subjected to such treatment? The official answer is often high volume. However, phenomena such as applications receiving more rejections compared to the past are closely linked to Turkey's relationship with irregular migration, the higher number of people crossing into Europe with visas who then file for asylum, and the risk that many will not return. In short, while it may not be the only reason, who we accept into our country or to whom we grant citizenship matters. Naturally, the political and economic situation within the country does as well.

Turkey's relations with the EU will not show signs of improvement in the short term. That is to say, neither Turkey nor the EU has a membership perspective. It was clear from the beginning that the visa liberalization discussed within the framework of the “Readmission Agreement” regarding asylum seekers would not materialize.

This is because it contained many concrete and open-ended elements. That is why, in its contacts with EU member states, Turkey has started to talk more about visa facilitation rather than visa liberalization.

But as we understand from the news reaching us, this does not seem very likely either. In short, the citizen expects effective policies in the part of the 360-degree foreign policy that touches their own life.