EU enlargement commission fule visits Ankara

In Ankara yesterday, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Egemen Bagis. Afterwards, Davutoglu told a joint press conference that Turkey has asked for visa exemptions for its citizens from the EU, as have been provided to some Balkan countries, parallel to the Readmission Agreement, and on such grounds as the Ankara Protocol, Additional Protocol and Customs Union. For his part, Fule said that he appreciates Turkey's policy of zero problems with its neighbors. On the visa issue, Fule said, "Work is being conducted on helping Turkey deal with illegal migration," and added, "Work should be done for extradition of those who came to Europe via Turkey. If any progress could be shown in dealing with illegal migration, work to liberalize visa requirements would start. After this process, if all member countries agree, steps on the lifting visa requirement should be easily taken."