Davutoğlu’s remarks came in İstanbul on Saturday at a joint press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, as he first noted these two countries’ constant support for Turkey’s EU accession bid.
“Unfortunately, we are facing a very serious deadlock in Turkey-EU relations in regards to opening of chapters. But beyond that, from now on we want a strategic vision to be sovereign in the EU’s viewpoint of Turkey. Perhaps, the two countries that most share this strategic vision with us are Italy and Sweden. Today, we found the chance to discuss this vision again,” Davutoğlu said. Turkey and the EU have failed to open a new negotiation chapter for the past eight months, the longest period of time since the beginning of membership talks in 2005. “I once more shared with them the disappointment we have felt due to the decision concerning visas that has been taken by the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council. Both of the countries had lent strong support to us but the decision for launching talks on visa immunity couldn’t unfortunately be taken because of interference from some countries,” Davutoğlu also said. Late last month, EU ministers approved a deal with Turkey on the readmission of illegal immigrants but refrained from authorizing the EU Commission to begin talks with Ankara on visa liberalization for Turkish nationals, calling instead for an ambiguous “visa dialogue.” At the time, Davutoğlu made it crystal clear that the decision of the EU ministers is far from meeting Turkey’s expectations and reiterated that Ankara would not put into effect the agreement on the readmission of illegal immigrants unless the EU launches talks that are aimed at visa liberalization. Still expressing expectations for the start of visa liberalization, Davutoğlu admitted this doesn’t seem possible for the moment.
“This [decision] has added a new one to negative messages coming from the EU. We will maintain our insistence on this issue. Principally, we are not asking for a treatment that is different than the one shown to any other country. We want the same treatment; we want the same rules that have been implemented,” Davutoğlu said, underlining Italy’s and Sweden’s support to Turkey on this issue once more.
“We expect this manner and understanding from the whole [union]. With efforts by our friends, we hope there will not be any new deadlock in Turkey-EU relations; that it will be opened,” he said.
While Bildt repeated his country’s support for Turkey’s EU accession, Frattini expressed “disappointment about the double standard by the EU” towards Turkey. Turkey asked the 27-nation bloc to grant visa exemptions for its nationals who want to travel to member states, saying the EU has already offered such privileges to many countries.
