Brussels, 22/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU and Turkey initialled an agreement on the readmission of illegal immigrants in Brussels, on Thursday 21 June. The Danish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers is hoping the agreement will be signed before 30 June. Commissioner Cecilia Malmström announced this step on Thursday evening, the day after EU member states reached agreement on opening a dialogue with Turkey on visa liberalisation.
Ankara had made opening talks on removing the need for visas a precondition for signing the readmission agreement. As soon as Turkey signs the readmission agreement, the Commission will set a roadmap and series of reforms to be implemented by Turkey, though finalisation of the visa-free regime may take some years and not be in place before 2015, according to some sources.
Malmström, however, welcomed the progress on readmission, “which reflects our shared interest in a more effective migration and border management”, she said in a press release. The text approved by Turkish and Commission representatives on Thursday sets out clear obligations and procedures to be followed by Turkish and EU member state authorities to swiftly return persons who are illegally residing on their territories, in full respect of international law and fundamental rights. It is similar to readmission agreements concluded by the EU with other third countries, Malmström stated. (SP/transl.rt)