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"The Turkish finance minister of leading German carmaker Mercedes Benz has stated his frustration that Germany has not eased visa-restrictions on travel between Germany and Turkey. Franz G. Koller is annoyed that despite visits to Turkey from three high ranking German officials there has been no progress on the issue. He points out that German businesses are losing ground to their competitors in Turkish investments because of excessive red tape.
“In December last year, the European Union waived the visa requirements for countries that are not even official EU candidates, such as Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro,” he said. “Turkey has been an official candidate since 1999 but the visa requirements are still in effect.”
Koller added that he can understand the feelings of those who call the EU’s attitude discrimination against Turks, and also questioned “whether Germany is alienating its long-lasting friend Turkey” due to the visa requirements.
“The visa process starts to hurt people’s feelings,” he said. “Unfortunately, Germany does not come first in Turks’ plans for trading, holidays and education anymore.”
Touching on the list of suggestions to be presented to German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere during his visit to Turkey commencing today, Koller basically said they should stop posturing and start taking real solid steps to cut red tape and reduce application times.
“Turkish businessmen have started to not see Germany as the first option for investment and cooperation due to the visa requirements; Germany fell to third place from first place in the list of top exporters to Turkey last year,” said Marc Landau, the AHK secretary-general.
Such a move could also boost the Turkish property market according to Aydin Cakir, director of New Home in Turkey.
“Removal or easing of visa restrictions between Germany and Turkey may also boost the Turkish property market. Germany is Turkey’s largest tourism market, and holiday makers tend to become holiday home buyers, visa-free travel would certainly make visiting a property in Turkey easier, and therefore ownership more attractive,” he said.
