WALL – Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, emphasizing that the issue of Schengen visa is not a “political issue” for the EU, and stated that progress can be achieved if Turkey fulfills the criteria it has committed to visa liberalization with the EU.
Answering the questions of Gülsen Solaker from DW Turkish, Ambassador Meyer-Landrut, reminded of the criticisms of both those who have problems in obtaining a visa and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, “This is an important issue. However, it is not a political issue and only a problem with Turkey. “I would like to start by saying that there is no such thing. Both of these issues are very important,” he said.
‘TURKEY IS IN THE TOP THREE APPLICATIONS’
PACE member, Parliamentary Industry Commission Chairman Ziya Altunyaldız stated that the Schengen visa refusal rate, which was 4 percent in 2014, increased to 12,7 percent in 2020. Meyer-Landrut said that every application is carefully and individually examined by the relevant authorities and explained the statistical data he has as follows: “If we look at the statistics, we see that Turkey is among the countries that apply for the Schengen visa the most. Turkey in terms of the number of Schengen applications. It is in the top three in the world. This is a huge rate. When we look at the past years, 900 thousand applications were made in 2019. We see that this number has decreased significantly during the pandemic period. There are 230 thousand applications in 2020 and 270 thousand applications in 2021. The figures for 2022 are yet to come. It’s not clear. But we’re expecting more applications than in the last two years.”
‘REJECTION RATE OF APPLICATIONS 16 PERCENT’
Ambassador Meyer-Landrut, if we look at the worldwide figures; He adds that there were a total of 17 million applications for Schengen visas in 2019, and 3 million in 2021. Meyer-Landrut explains the rates of rejection responses to applications in Turkey as follows: “You also asked about rejection rates. According to the statistics we have, Turkey actually follows the general trend worldwide. The rejection rate of applications from Turkey in 2021 is 16 percent. This figure is less than the world average. Slightly above, but close to the general rejection trend around the world.”
Meyer-Landrut, who said that there was an increase in applications with the decrease in the severity of the pandemic and this brought some difficulties, said: “However, I would like to point out that these difficulties are not only related to Turkey. This is the case for many countries. Of course, all these delays are unfortunate. “The consulates are trying to use all the means at their disposal to reduce waiting times and increase their capacity. But of course they have to follow the rules of both the EU and their own countries.”
So what should be done in order not to receive a rejection response to the application? Ambassador Meyer-Landrut answered this question as follows: “What can be done to reduce visa waiting times and difficulties is to make good quality and timely applications. Because we see fraudulent and incomplete applications. These are also factors in the rejection of these applications.”
On the other hand, Meyer-Landrut stated that a positive trend has been observed regarding Schengen visas for Turkey in recent years, “This trend is the increase in the rate of issuing multiple-entry visas, which is important for Turkish citizens. While this rate was 58 percent in 2014, it decreased to 82 percent in 2021. “In other words, the rate of issuing multiple-entry visas to applicants from Turkey is considerably higher than the world rate, which is 70 percent,” he said. Meyer-Landrut stated that it is very important to be able to work together in such difficult times and said, “We are in regular contact with the Turkish authorities. Of course, we want to find a solution to this problem by staying within the legal framework.”
‘WE ARE IN CONTACT REGARDING VISA FREEDOM’
Ambassador Meyer-Landrut stated that they are in constant contact with the Turkish authorities on visa liberalization and added: “This issue was also one of the agenda topics on the table during high-level political contacts in the past months and years. Turkish officials know that the ball is in their own court, as you mentioned. Data protection and there are important criteria to be met in areas such as the definition of terrorism.
Meyer-Landrut added that they want to continue discussions on the subject, but reminded that at this stage, no progress has been made regarding the remaining criteria. Meyer-Landrut, who also stated that the process did not freeze, said, “We are continuing our negotiations. But Turkish authorities know very well that these criteria, for example, the criteria for the protection of personal data, must be fulfilled through legislation. As soon as this is done, progress will be made in this matter.”