A Step Backward for Turkey?: The Readmission Agreement and the Hope of Visa-Free Europe

Executive Summary

On December 16, 2013, Turkey signed the readmission agreement with the European Union (EU). According to the agreement, migrants who use Turkish territory as a transit route to enter the EU through illegal means will be readmitted to Turkey, and Turkey will then be responsible for returning these irregular migrants to their countries of origin. However, discussions surrounding the agreement have focused primarily on “visa liberalization” rather than readmission, and the agreement has been presented as a step toward removing visa requirements for Turkish citizens traveling to Europe.

This policy brief argues that the agreement represents a step backward for Turkey for several reasons. First, considering Turkey’s acquired rights as an EU candidate country regarding the free movement of its citizens, the agreement creates legal uncertainties and gaps. Second, since visa liberalization was granted to other candidate countries and even non-candidate countries before Turkey, the agreement itself raises questions regarding the EU’s principle of equal treatment.

Third, the ambiguity surrounding the concept of “visa exemption” may impose additional obligations and responsibilities on Turkey, as expectations from the EU remain largely abstract and unclear in both the readmission agreement and the related roadmap. Fourth, the readmission agreement primarily serves the EU’s interests in combating irregular migration by externalizing migration management and shifting the burden onto Turkey.

This brief examines the relationship between the readmission of irregular migrants to Turkey and visa-free travel for Turkish citizens by analyzing the agreement’s unfair and problematic aspects. It also addresses the current agreement between Turkey and the EU concerning the Syrian refugee crisis.

Finally, the study presents policy recommendations aimed at protecting Turkey’s long-term interests, along with suggestions for achieving more balanced burden-sharing in addressing irregular migration flows and refugee crises.