Türkiye and EU Discuss New Visa Facilitation Framework for Business and Transport Sectors

In a significant step toward visa liberalization, Türkiye and the European Union have initiated talks on introducing a new “threshold system” to accelerate visa procedures, primarily benefiting businesspeople, transporters, and other professional groups. The announcement was made by Trade Minister Ömer Bolat following the Türkiye-EU High-Level Trade Dialogue Meeting held in Ankara, where he met with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

Speaking at the post-meeting press conference, Minister Bolat described the dialogue as a move that added “strategic depth” to Türkiye-EU relations. He said that concrete progress had been made in easing trade barriers and visa application procedures, and that Türkiye sees this as a critical step toward full visa liberalization.

Concrete Steps Ahead of Erdoğan–von der Leyen Meeting

Bolat also referenced the expected high-level meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set for December 2024, noting that both sides are working on concrete deliverables in advance of the summit.

Trade Barriers and Customs Modernization Discussed

The meeting covered technical topics such as digital recognition of A.TR documents, deeper cooperation via the TAREKS system, surveillance practices, and green-digital transition alignment. Emphasizing the importance of the EU–Türkiye Customs Union, Bolat stated, “This framework has strengthened Türkiye’s industrial infrastructure and enhanced the competitiveness of our exports.”

Visa Liberalization Re-Emerges as Key Agenda Item

One of the most critical issues raised was the long-standing visa obstacle. Minister Bolat made clear that Türkiye has formally conveyed its expectations for streamlined visa access, especially for business leaders, transport professionals, technical experts, academics, and students. He highlighted the contradiction between free movement of goods under the Customs Union and restricted movement for people, calling it “unsustainable.”

New System in the Works, Positive Signals from Brussels

Minister Bolat revealed that Brussels is preparing to accelerate visa processing, with early signs indicating support for the new threshold-based visa model. He noted that concrete steps are expected soon, while reiterating Türkiye’s ultimate goal: full visa liberalization for all citizens within the framework of existing agreements.