The German Foreign Office holds Turkey responsible for the extensive waiting times experienced when applying for EU visas. According to the Foreign Office, a fundamental shift in the visa granting process would be “absolutely desirable,” but such a change can only be achieved through a comprehensive visa liberalization. This places the onus on Turkey to implement the necessary reform requirements set by the EU. In this context, the Foreign Office also specifically addressed the new regulations concerning social media usage in Turkey, cautioning that the legitimate interest in effective youth protection must not lead to further setbacks regarding freedom of expression or the rule of law.
The statement comes amidst reports of Turks having to wait nearly a year for a German visa. The Foreign Office confirmed it is fully aware of the significance of the visa issue in Turkey, noting that while their visa offices are working diligently and customer-oriented to process applications efficiently, the demand far exceeds available capacity.
In response to the backlog, the Foreign Office explained that on its side, local staffing has been increased and the entire application process has been digitized. Furthermore, Germany has successfully advocated among Schengen partners for an amendment to visa durations, allowing multi-year visas to be granted more generously. The introduction of a “Business Fast Track” has also simplified short trips for business travelers connected with Germany. The Foreign Office expressed confidence that these implemented measures will soon begin to yield noticeable improvements.
