ANKARA (AA) – Turkey has accepted in principle visa-free entry for tourists from the EU, a notice in the official gazette said Tuesday.
However, the measure will only be implemented once the EU accepts visa-liberalization for Turkish nationals. The European Commission is due to make a recommendation on Wednesday after assessing if Turkey has fulfilled 72 conditions.
The notice said ministers agreed the move following approval by the Foreign Ministry on April 29.
Visa-free travel across the Schengen zone is part of an EU-Turkey deal agreed in November to reduce the flow of refugees from Turkey to the 28-nation bloc.
Under the agreement, Turkey will readmit migrants who are not granted asylum in Greece in return for the EU resettling Syrian refugees on a one-for-one basis.
As well as relaxing visa restrictions, the EU has pledged a 6 billion euro ($6.9 billion) aid package for refugees in Turkey and to accelerate Turkey’s EU membership bid.
Volkan Bozkir, Turkey’s EU minister, has previously said Turkish nationals can expect visa-free travel to the EU by the end of June.
