Brussels, 06/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Turkey and the European Union have agreed to step up their cooperation to tackle the joint problem of immigrant flows, a joint press release states. The press release was published on Thursday 5 November, after a meeting in Ankara between the Turkish Interior Minister, Beºir Atalay, the vice-president of the European Commission, Jacques Barrot, who is responsible for immigration issues, and the Swedish Minister for Immigration, Tobias Billström. Turkey and the EU have agreed to: - set up regular dialogue on mobility, immigration, asylum and visas; - reinforce their cooperation on visa policy to encourage contact between the populations. The European Commission has pledged to ensure that the Soysal/Savatli ruling of the Court of Justice (February 2009), which reaffirms that the Member States should not require visas of Turkish nationals as regards the freedom to provide services, is respected; - sign readmission agreements and make all efforts to implement them rapidly and to join forces to conclude readmission agreements with a number of countries of origin and transit (Pakistan); - formally adopt and apply a work agreement between Turkey and Frontex, which is currently the subject of an agreement at technical level. Lastly, the EU states that it is prepared to consider additional technical and financial aid to immigration, border management and surveillance, the fight against illegal immigration and the trafficking in human beings and assistance for refugees and asylum seekers. (B.C./trans.fl)