The European Union is moving forward in relaxing the rules concerning a visa to move to the Schengen zone to Turkish citizens, as the Bloc ambassador to Ankara said on Friday.

He himself, as Reuters reports, also called for immediate re -launch negotiations for the free movement of the Turks, that is, without the use of a visa.

Ambassador Thomas Hans Osofsky said the new rules would help address the Turks’ complaints about time -consuming bureaucratic processes, but warned that the changes were not enough to solve the problems.

For years, the Turks have been complaining about the EU visa visa system. The EU, for its part, replies that the procedures – which are managed by accredited visas issuing services – are slow due to the large number of applications, and has noted that it is considering possible solutions with Ankara.

“It will be much easier and much faster for Turkish citizens,” Osofski told reporters in Ankara, referring to the European Commission’s new decision, which has been in force on July 15, which is simplifying the process for multiple entry visas for the Turks.

The Turks who have previously used their visa will be eligible for a six -month visa from their second application, and then for a one -year, three -year and five -year multi -year visas.

As Reuters notes, Turkey has been nominated for EU accession since 1999, but its process has been frozen for years due to series of issues ranging from human rights to the regression of democracy.

Ossovsky added, however, that the EU is required to immediately consider the possibility of providing a visa -free movement to Turkish citizens.

“For every other candidate country, visa travels are true except Turkey,” he said, adding: “It is urgent to restart this process for visa -free travel to Schengen and the EU,” he added.

The European Commission is ready to restart official negotiations after the summer and work with Ankara to fulfill the six other criteria required by the roadmap to release the visas, he added.

“We are ready, the Commission is ready to work closely with the Turkish authorities,” he said.