CHP's Tan on 'Schengen' issue: 'The EU is imposing implicit sanctions on the government'

CHP's Tan, speaking at a press conference in Parliament, recalled that Turkish citizens have been experiencing significant grievances in obtaining Schengen visas from EU countries for 3 years, and stated that the CHP has been explaining this grievance to its European counterparts in all platforms where it represents Turkey, but that they have not seen concrete steps toward resolving the issue.

'IMPLICIT SANCTIONS'

Claiming that the People's Alliance's shelving of membership negotiations, disregarding the efforts made toward full EU membership since 1963, has encouraged European governments to treat Turkish citizens carelessly, Tan assessed, "In our view, the European Union is imposing implicit sanctions on the government in Turkey due to the gradual erosion of democratic institutions and norms in the country."

THE REPUTATION OF THE TURKISH PASSPORT

CHP's Tan stated that Schengen Area countries cite the increase in cases of Turkish citizens attempting to migrate to EU countries illegally as a justification, adding, "It is a fact that EU countries have strict and sometimes discriminatory practices toward Turkey and Turkish citizens, but while this reality is being examined in our country, the issue is only evaluated through the prevalence of racist ideas or the existence of Islamophobia in Europe. No one mentions that the government in Turkey, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is not sufficiently implementing policies that would increase the reputation of the Turkish passport and better protect the rights of our citizens."

CASCADE VISAS

Explaining that a "cascade visa" policy for Indian citizens was put into effect by the EU Commission on April 18, 2024, Tan asked, "Why is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not conducting a study to ensure that our citizens can also automatically benefit from the cascade visa policy?"

OPEN CALL

Namık Tan also asked why visa liberalization under the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement has not yet come into effect, stating, "Why has the mentality that closed the Ministry for EU Affairs under the pretext that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sufficient, let alone EU membership, remained so ineffective in implementing a fundamental right gained through agreements? We make an open call to Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, who is the addressee of these questions, to prioritize this issue."

News Source: AA