Newsletters
Türkiye has finished a new draft of its personal data protection legislation and is moving toward technical talks with the European Commission, Turkish media reported Wednesday. It is the first concrete move under a strategy announced in August to clear the remaining obstacles to visa-free travel to Europe.
Officials from the relevant ministries and the Commission are expected to meet soon, though no date has been announced. The talks are seen as one of the opening steps on this criterion and as a guide for what comes next. The Commission’s assessment of whether the new text meets its expectations will shape the rest of the process.
The European Union has long pressed Türkiye to bring its Law on the Protection of Personal Data into line with European standards. Of the six requirements Ankara has failed to complete in 13 years, this is the one now being tackled. Reports said the Commission considers the existing legal framework inadequate.
Türkiye is considered likely to ask for flexibility on some elements of the criterion. Reports noted that no firm timetable has been set for completing it.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz announced the new approach in August, saying the Foreign, Justice and Interior ministries had been brought together for a series of meetings.
He called data protection “one of the most important” items, alongside readmission and the definition of terrorism, and thanked the Justice Ministry for setting up a scientific board that worked on the law.
He said a “new approach” had been developed and that Turkish institutions would now consult European bodies through the Foreign Ministry. He also said Ankara wants to see political will in Europe.
The remaining requirements are changes to counterterrorism legislation, an agreement with Europol, steps against corruption, judicial cooperation with all EU member states, full implementation of the Readmission Agreement, and aligning personal data rules with European standards.
The visa liberalization dialogue began on Dec. 16, 2013, the same day Ankara and Brussels signed the Readmission Agreement, and is built around a roadmap of 72 criteria. Turkish media have noted that even after Türkiye meets all of them, the process would still require a Commission report, agreement among member states in the Council and approval from the European Parliament.
Türkiye’s citizens still need Schengen visas. According to European Commission figures for 2025 cited by Turkish media, applications from Türkiye rose 8 percent to more than 1.26 million, and 14.6 percent were refused.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
