TURKEY PUTS CONDITIONS TO THE EU DURING BULGARIAN PM’S VISIT IN ISTANBUL

If visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in the EU is not introduced by 1st of October, the readmission agreement signed between Ankara and the EU will not come into force. This became clear after the meeting between Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his Turkish counterpart Bilani Yildirim in Istanbul and before Borissov’s talks with Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan on 26th of August.

Visa-free travel was a condition put by Turkey to the EU member states. Yildirim warned that if it was not met, this would put Europe at huge risk of migration pressure. Bulgaria’s PM has to deliver namely this condition to Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A common European solution is being sought for and a bilateral agreement between Bulgaria and Turkey will not solve the problem with the refugee influx, Borissov said.

It is of a vital importance the visa-free travel to come into force as of October. If the visa requirements for the Turkish citizens are not cancelled and there is non-implementation of the readmission agreement, this will put Europe at huge risk. I explained this to Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and I am convinced that he will have the chance to convey this to the leaders of the EU member states,” Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said remarked. We are aware of the migration problem Bulgaria is faced with and we are monitoring it closely, he said.

PM Yildirim undertook a commitment to do everything possible to ease the burden on Bulgaria.

photo by BTA