Çavuşoğlu, Timmermans talk EU-Turkey deals

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu discussed the issue of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens within the EU Schengen borderless zone with European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans on the phone late Monday.

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said the two officials also spoke by the telephone about how to implement the EU-Turkey deal on refugees.

The EU-Turkey deal aims to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human smugglers and improving the conditions of Syrian refugees in Turkey.

It also stipulated the acceleration of Turkey's EU membership bid and visa-free travel for Turkish nationals within the Schengen area, on the condition that Ankara met 72 requirements set by the EU.

Ankara has met most of the requirements, but the EU's demands for change in Turkey's anti-terrorism law have led to a pause in negotiations.

Meanwhile, Çavuşoğlu and Timmermans also agreed on meeting in Antalya or in Ankara between May 27-29, within the scope of "The Least Developed Countries Action Plan Revision Meeting".