Press Release: Cecilia Malmström signs the Readmission Agreement and launches the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue with Turkey

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström, in Ankara at the invitation of the Turkish authorities, signed on the 16 December 2013, with the Turkish Minister of Interior Muammer Güler, the EU-Turkey readmission agreement, and initiated, jointly with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu, the EU-Turkey Visa liberalisation dialogue.

Some of the commentary features discussed the significance of the events, but suggested that European Parliament and Turkish Presidential elections in 2014 will mean that there is little progress in that year in relations between Turkey and the European Union.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU-Turkey: ready to sign readmission agreement http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-eu-turkey-ready-to-sign-readmission-agreement/

BBC News, 16.12.13: EU and Turkey agreement on deporting migrants and visas http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25398872

Blog: ECFR, 05.12.13: Readmission deal signals improved EU-Turkey ties http://www.ecfr.eu/blog/entry/readmission_deal_signals_improved_eu_turkey_ties

EUObserver, 17.12.13: EU-Turkey relations heading for new pause http://euobserver.com/foreign/122498

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Accession Conference at Ministerial level opens negotiations with Turkey on Chapter 22 - Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural instruments / Turkey and EU restart membership talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-accession-conference-at-ministerial-level-opens-negotiations-with-turkey-on-chapter-22-regional-policy-and-coordination-of-structural-instruments-turkey-and-eu-restart-membership-ta/

EurActiv, 17.12.13: EU embarks on long-haul effort to lift visa for Turks http://www.euractiv.com/justice/eu-embarks-long-haul-effort-lift-news-532375

Deutsche Welle, 16.12.13: Turkey and EU sign immigrant deal http://dw.de/p/1Aaao

taz, 17.12.13: Refugee deal with Turkey unmasks EU (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE135398-Refugee-deal-with-Turkey-unmasks-EU

Radikal, 17.12.13: Visa requirements for Turks lifted in exchange for reaccepting migrants (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/4412531-visa-requirements-turks-lifted-exchange-reaccepting-migrants

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