Turkey Must Amend Anti-Terror Law if It Wants Visa-Free Regime With EU

The revision of Turkish anti-terror law is indispensable for visa liberalization between Brussels and Ankara, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Steffen Seibert said Monday.

BERLIN (Sputnik) — Before a visa-free regime with the bloc can be introduced Ankara has to meet 72 EU requirements. Notably, Turkey is expected to amend anti-terror legislation by narrowing the definition of terrorism and ensuring freedom of speech in the country.

"As for anti-terror legislation, you know about a long list of requirements to be met by the Turkish side for visa liberalization, including these ones [related to amending the anti-terror laws], which were adopted back in 2013. They are still necessary. We believe that visa regime will be lifted only when all points on the list, including this one, are fulfilled," Seibert told journalists at a briefing.

In March, Brussels and Ankara agreed on a deal providing that Turkey would take back all undocumented migrants who arrive in the European Union through its territory in return for the acceleration of its EU membership talks and a visa-free regime between Turkey and the Schengen Area.

Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Ankara could withdraw from the migration deal if Brussels did not deliver on its promise of visa waiver for Turkish citizens.