Who Wants to Travel to Europe? The Schengen Wall for Turkish Nationals

Executive Summary

When Turkey began its accession talks with the European Union in 2005, the Turks accepted the news with much enthusiasm, specifically the Western-leaning Turkish elite. For professional, educated Turks, Turkey already belonged to the European identity, and the accession negotiations would result in the final endorsement of this sense of community. It was expected that exchanges between Turkey and Europe socially, culturally, and economically would intensify with the accession process underway. Civil society organizations, business groups, and universities would have increased social interactions with their European counterparts. There would have been greater mobility from Europe to Turkey and, vice versa, leading to new partnerships. With these increased social, economic, and cultural interactions, a new road would have been paved for a mutual understanding between Turkey and Europe. It is with great sadness that we note in 2014 not only has this hopeful view of the future not materialized but this image has instead turned out to be the impenetrable wall created by Schengen visa applications for Turkish nationals. In a matter of 9 years, Turkish perceptions of the EU as a liberal democratic partner was shattered by the long lines of Turks - academics, doctors, professionals, students - waiting in front of the consulates of the EU member states.