Visa-free travel for Turks threatens EU credibility
Germany and France already suggested stricter rules to suspend visa-free travel under certain circumstances
The European Commission today proposed to grant visa-free travel to Turks as part of the EU-Turkey deal agreed in March to stem the inflow of migrants coming to Europe. Visa requirements for short-term stays in the Schengen area could be lifted from July provided Ankara satisfies all 72 conditions specified by the EU. As many as ten are still unmet. The proposal will need to be approved by a majority of member states and the European Parliament. The Commission also suggested the introduction of a mandatory relocation mechanism for asylum seekers. If the number of arrivals reaches 150% of the threshold set for each country, all further asylum seekers would be sent elsewhere. Countries that do not participate would be charged 250,000 euros (290,000 dollars) per person.
Our judgement
Upholding its end of the migrant deal presents the EU with a dilemma. Insisting that all conditions have to be met, which may prove difficult as some of the unmet criteria refer to controversial issues such as Turkey's definition of terrorism, could threaten the agreement; making concessions would highlight the EU's weakness and dependence on Turkey, especially given the recent controversy surrounding German Chancellor Angela Merkel's response to the Boehmermann case.
See EU/TURKEY: Migrant deal is unlikely to succeed - March 21, 2016.