While von der Leyen did not make any other statement on the matter of visas, this very short one suggests that visa developments may take place next year.
However, it is yet to be seen what steps the EU plans to take, especially now that a larger number of Turkish nationals have been complaining about long waiting periods of time to obtain a Schengen visa.
Turkish MFA Urges EU to Accelerate Visa Liberalisation Talks
Just last month, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, called on the EU authorities to speed up the visa liberalisation talks.
According to Minister Fidan, Turkish nationals wanting to enter the bloc are facing many visa-related difficulties. As he pointed out, there are currently increased delays in visa processing.
The Minister further complained about the high visa rejection rates. He said that from the beginning of 2024 until the end of November, visa denials for Turkish nationals increased by 0.4 percentage points, leading to financial losses, among others.
The visa liberalisation talks between the EU and Türkiye have been ongoing since 2013. However, due to some concerns that the bloc has voiced, no agreement on the matter has yet been reached.
Türkiye Committed to Gain EU Membership
In addition to wanting to reach a visa liberalisation agreement with the EU, Türkiye has also expressed once again its commitment to gain EU membership.
Commenting on the matter during a joint press conference with von der Leyen, President Erdogan said a couple of days ago that EU membership remains a strategic goal for his country.
He also emphasised that Türkiye’s EU membership would have a significant impact on both parties.
The EU membership talks between Türkiye and the EU started in 2025. They have stalled in the last years due to disagreements between parties and political roadblocks.
