The European Union agreed in March to offer Turkey visa-free access by July 1. (File Photo)
Brussels:
Turkey must still do more to meet the EU's conditions to win visa-free travel for Turks under a migrant crisis deal, for which the deadline is July 1, the European Commission said today.
"On visa liberalisation, Turkey still needs to fulfil the remaining benchmarks of the roadmap so that visa requirements for Turkey citizens can be lifted soon," said Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.
He said however that Turkey had made "spectacular" progress by so far fulfilling 65 of the 72 benchmarks set by Brussels "and our people work together with the Turkish authorities to accomplish this goal."
The European Union agreed in March to offer Turkey visa-free access by July 1, increased aid and speeded up accession talks in return for Ankara controlling the flood of migrants crossing into Greece.
But Turkey has yet to fulfil all of the conditions laid down by the European Commission for the visa agreement, including changes to Ankara's anti-terrorism laws to meet EU concerns over human rights.
Turkey's Europe minister has admitted there is no chance of completing the deal on visa-free travel to the EU by the July 1 deadline.
"On visa liberalisation, Turkey still needs to fulfil the remaining benchmarks of the roadmap so that visa requirements for Turkey citizens can be lifted soon," said Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.
He said however that Turkey had made "spectacular" progress by so far fulfilling 65 of the 72 benchmarks set by Brussels "and our people work together with the Turkish authorities to accomplish this goal."
The European Union agreed in March to offer Turkey visa-free access by July 1, increased aid and speeded up accession talks in return for Ankara controlling the flood of migrants crossing into Greece.
But Turkey has yet to fulfil all of the conditions laid down by the European Commission for the visa agreement, including changes to Ankara's anti-terrorism laws to meet EU concerns over human rights.
Turkey's Europe minister has admitted there is no chance of completing the deal on visa-free travel to the EU by the July 1 deadline.
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