Turkish EU Visa-Free Deal Nearing Completion

A long-awaited visa facilitation deal that would ease procedures for Turkish citizens to obtain a Schengen visa from European Union countries is almost complete, diplomatic sources have said.

"We aim for a full exemption of visa on Turkish citizens before the membership of Turkey to EU. The facilitation agreement will be merely the first step to it," said a Turkish diplomat on Thursday.

It is now thought that the European Council will discuss the issue in October. It is also thought that the agreement will be fairly small in scope to begin with; seeking special privileges for segments of society, like those travelling for business, culture, education, and science.

"We are aware how this issue [of visa] causes disappointment and difficulties in Turkey. The European Commission is of the opinion that facilitating visa regime would be in the interest of both Turkey and the EU," Marc Pierini, head of the European Commission representation in Turkey told the daily Radikal in an interview.

There is a lot in the news right now regarding advancement in Turkey's EU accession process, no doubt spurred on by the agreement for Turkey to transport 75 million cubic meters of water from Turkey to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) annually by pipeline.

Turkey is coming on leaps and bounds without EU membership, but it would still give the economy and the property market a boost according to Julian Walker, director of UK based Turkey property agent Spot Blue.

"Turkey has proven that it is a stable and safe place to buy property, but there will always be a segment of society that will wait for the extra layer of safety provided by EU membership, before buying property or otherwise investing in the economy," he said.

The visa-free deal will likely lead to increasing travel between Turkey and the EU," he added

Spot Blue is currently marketing property in Turkey from £25,000

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