Yesterday the European Commission published the long-awaited report regarding EU-Turkey relations. “Turkey remains a difficult partner with whom only small steps can be taken – this is the essence of the report,” writes the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

“For the Turkish side, the most important thing is to make the procedures for issuing visas easier. […] However, the full liberalization of visas is not even under discussion,” because Ankara does not fulfill the relevant conditions. Last year “were deposited in the E.U. nearly 55,000 asylum applications from Turks – this is the third highest number. 60% of them were rejected.” Now, through the report, “the E.U. calls on Ankara to keep its promises and take more measures to curb illegal immigration. This year the number of arrivals from Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans increased by 33%.

Another issue that concerns both sides is the modernization of the Customs Union. But, as the Frankfurt newspaper explains, for the resumption of negotiations “Turkey should participate again in a productive way in the UN negotiations. to overcome the division of Cyprus – otherwise Nicosia will veto it anyway. Since 2005, Turkey has refused to extend the customs union to the Greek part of the island, a stance that has already significantly strained accession talks.

[…] The report calls on Ankara to take decisive measures aimed at harmonizing it with the Union’s common foreign and security policy. This is something the EU is asking for. from all candidate states, as well as from those with an association agreement. But Turkey basically agrees with 10% of the political priorities of the Union”, she concludes FAZ