Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Fatih Kacır has urged the European Union to waive visa requirements for Turkish young researchers and entrepreneurs, highlighting the potential boost this would bring to innovation and technology in Europe. Kacır made these remarks during a press briefing alongside EU Commissioner Iliana Ivanova, which followed the Turkey-EU High-Level Dialogue Meeting held in Istanbul.
Kacır underscored the significance of visa exemption for young Turkish researchers and entrepreneurs, citing their vital role in energizing Europe's innovation and technology landscape. He emphasized the necessity of revising the Customs Union to enhance mutual trade between Turkey and the EU, aligning with shared benefits amidst current trade challenges and global developments.
Kacır affirmed that Turkey's ongoing initiatives and collaborations with European partners will persist in this regard, as reported by Hürriyet Daily News. Türkiye remains engaged in discussions with EU authorities regarding visa facilitation.
Confirming ongoing talks between Türkiye's representatives and their EU counterparts on visa facilitation, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Türkiye's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated in December of last year that Türkiye is advocating for a streamlined Schengen visa application process for students, artists, media professionals, academics, and businesspeople.
In March of this year, Nikolas Meyer-Landrut, the Head of the European Union delegation to Türkiye, noted that in 2023, the largest number of Schengen visas was issued to Türkiye citizens compared to the statistics from 2022. Meyer-Landrut emphasized the robust economic ties between Türkiye and the EU, highlighting that last year, the trade volume between EU countries and Türkiye surpassed €206 billion.
Recently, the Romanian government approved initiating discussions with Türkiye for a new agreement aligned with the Schengen acquis regarding visas, following Romania's partial accession to the Schengen Area. The agreement on citizen travel between Romania and Türkiye, initially signed in Bucharest in 2004 and later amended by two Protocols in 2007, was partially terminated on September 19, 2003.