EU's Timmermans cites progress on visa-free travel for Turkey

The European Union and Turkey held constructive talks on the conditions for granting visa-free travel for Turks, and EU experts will visit Ankara next week to work on removing the last obstacles, the European Commission's vice-president said on Friday.

 

Frans Timmermans said on Twitter after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik that they shared a "joint determination to overcome last remaining obstacles to visa liberalization".

 

His upbeat statement contrasted with public warnings by President Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey would not change its anti-terrorism law to meet the EU's criteria, casting doubt on the future of an EU-Turkey deal to stop illegal migration.