Boyner urges EU to solve visa problems with Turkey

Turkish Businessmen's and Industrialists' Association (TUSIAD) Chairperson Umit Boyner yesterday called on EU to solve visa problems with Turkey, as those problems had a negative impact on daily lives of Turkish people and productivity of business life. Speaking at a conference on the G20, EU and Turkey at the European Parliament in Brussels, Boyner said, "The EU is fundamental dynamics of the reform process in Turkey. The membership talks should be accelerated. Now we have three preconditions, namely, finding a solution to visa problems to ensure a positive agenda which has been previously suggested by the European Commission, and treating Turkey fairly in free trade agreements to be signed by EU with the third countries." Boyner added that Turkey, which has learned from the crisis of 2001, was now in a better situation than many other EU member countries in terms of fundamental economic indicators such as budget deficit and debt burden.