Turkish and international media and rights groups called on the EU on Thursday to create ways for Turkish journalists to obtain longer and easier visas in order to increase their mobility.
“In line with the European Union’s commitment to media freedom, we urge the EU missions and the Delegation to move beyond standard bureaucratic processes and recognise the public interest served by journalistic mobility,” the joint letter said.
In the joint letter, 18 Turkish and international organisations, including the International Press Institute, IPI, the European Federation of Journalists, EFJ, and Media and Law Studies Association, MLSA, called the current situation contradictory.
“The critical contradiction between the European Union’s commitment to support independent media in candidate states and current visa policies … effectively obstructs the professional mobility of Turkish journalists,” the letter said.
The organisations complained of “the current lengthy and unpredictable visa regime that contributes to the professional isolation of Turkish journalists”.
The letter said: “Journalists report excessive waiting times of up to six months just to secure an appointment, with processing taking an additional two months. These delays render professional opportunities inaccessible and prevent attendance at important international conferences.”
It added that EU embassies often reject visas arbitrarly, or only issue short-term visas for Turkish reporters. “Many journalists report receiving visas valid only for the exact dates of a single trip or facing unexplained rejections, despite their profession and its collaborative nature,” the letter wrote.
Freelance journalists face extra hardship in visa applications. “There is a notable lack of institutional recognition and avenues for freelance and independent journalists,” the letter said, noting that many freelancers’ visa applications are rejected.
A final aspect is the cost of visa applications. According to the joint letter, high cumulative costs and repeated application procedures create a significant bureaucratic and financial burden, particularly for small media outlets and independent professionals.
“We call for the establishment of a targeted ‘visa corridor’ for recognised media professionals and those holding international press memberships,” the letter said, calling for long-term, multiple entry visas and simplified application processes and documentation for journalists.
Refusal of Schengen visas remains a problem for some Turkish citizens. According to EU data, Turkish nationals in 2024 submitted 1,173,917.Schengen visa applications, of which 993,875 were approved, including 645,583 multiple-entry visas. The refusal rate for Turkish citizens in 2024 was about 14.5 per cent.
Turkey has been an EU candidate member since 1999. However, due to human rights violations, democratic backsliding and conflicting international interests, Turkey’s membership process has long been practically frozen.