Visa-free Travel for Turkish Nationals: Readmission and beyond Istanbul, 28 May 2014 Brussels, 2 October 2013

Two Turkish fears: Readmission: Turkey will become “a dumping ground” for irregular migrants from the EU „EU member states will never agree to give us visa-free travel“ 2

EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement Upon entry into force: return of Turkish citizens found illegally residing in EU member states 3 years after entry into force: return of irregular third-country nationals if the EU MS has evidence that they came via Turkey 3

Illegal border crossings Turkey - Greece 2008: 45, : 36, : 52, : 56, : 34,000 4

Illegal border crossings Turkey - Greece 2008: 44, : 36, : 52, : 56, : 34, : 12,500 (land: 1,100; sea: 11,400) 5

The Greek-Turkish border 6

The issue of evidence Turkish visa or residence permit Entry or departure stamps in the passport Hotel bills, car rental agreements, credit card receipts, use of travel agencies Tickets with the person’s name Official statements by border guards and other witnesses Official statement by the person Prima facie evidence (contestable) 7

The issue of willingness Most EU member states do not want to return irregular migrants to countries they have crossed on their way to the EU 8

Ukraine Readmission agreement with the EU in effect since 1 Jan. 2008, 2-year transitional period for TCN clause (return of third-country nationals) 2010: 398 TCN returned 2011: 243 TCN 2012: 108 TCN 9

Western Balkans Readmission agreements with the EU in effect since 1 Jan No more than 20 TCN requests per year 10

11 Readmission: no „tsunami“

„The EU member states (Cyprus) will never allow it“ 12

EU decision-making process 13  European Commission  European Parliament  Council of the EU

European Commission Technical assessments – “strict but fair” Assistance Legislative proposal

European Parliament LIBE committee / rapporteur AFET committee Political groups

Council: qualified majority Needed: 234 out of 316 votes France, Germany, Italy, (UK): 29 Poland, Spain:27 Romania:14 Netherlands:13 Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal: 12 Austria, Bulgaria, Sweden:10 Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Slovakia, (Ireland):7 Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Slovenia:4 Malta:3

How to get to 234? Turkey secures the support of big or influential member states: Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden; It charms a large number of smaller member states: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia; It convinces Germany. The votes of Austria, Cyprus, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are NOT needed. 17

18 What next? For Turkey: - Ratification of the readmission agreement - Implementation of the roadmap conditions - Civil society must become active - Lobbying to secure 234 out of 316 votes in the Council

Visa-free travel: Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia: 19 December 2009 Albania and Bosnia 15 December 2010 Moldova: 28 April 2014 Turkey: 2015? 19

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