Minister Bolat raised Turkish truck drivers’ visa issues with EU Commissioner Brunner

Türkiye’s Trade Minister Ömer Bolat held an online meeting with European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, raising the visa difficulties faced by Turkish TIR drivers and conveying transporters’ proposals for solutions.

Türkiye’s Trade Minister Ömer Bolat held an online meeting with European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner. Bolat said he outlined the visa difficulties faced by professional TIR drivers and shared transporters’ expectations and concrete proposals for solutions.

Bolat said Brunner acknowledged the intensive two-way trade between Türkiye and the EU under the Customs Union and Türkiye’s position in terms of connectivity. Brunner said they would address the issue through constructive cooperation in the context of security checks at the borders and the implementation of the Entry-Exit System.

Video meeting between Minister Bolat and EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Brunner

Bolat stressed that they would continue their contacts with EU authorities with determination to protect the competitiveness of exporters and the transport sector. The EU’s Entry-Exit System electronically records the entries and exits of non-EU nationals entering the Schengen area; delays faced by Turkish TIR drivers in their visa applications have long been on the sector’s agenda.