Germany exempts certain visa requirements

The memo came after two Turkish truck drivers won a legal battle against Germany over entrance into the country without a visa. The circular was sent to the Central Police Directorate and state interior ministries. Those who work for companies in Turkey and go to Germany for work related maintenance, repair or assembly will also be exempt from visa requirements for two months. One copy of the memo, dated May 6, was also sent to Brussels.

On Feb. 19, the European Court of Justice ruled that visas would not be required for Turkish nationals planning to enter EU-member states to provide a service. In a decision sent to a German court, the ECJ said that the EU could not require visas from Turkish nationals based on Article 41 of an Additional Protocol signed by Turkey and the European Economic Community on Nov. 23, 1970.

The ECJ said: "At the time of the entry into force of the Additional Protocol with regard to the Federal Republic of Germany, namely 1 January 1973, Turkish nationals such as the appellants in the main proceedings, engaged in the provision of services in Germany in the international transport of goods by road on behalf of a Turkish undertaking, had the right to enter German territory for those purposes without first having to obtain a visa."

France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and Italy, which were EEC members on that date, are expected to obey the court decision. Spain, England, Portugal and Denmark, which were not EEC members on that date, are expected to apply the rule as well.

Western Balkan countries to join Schengen areaMeanwhile, as their prospects of early EU membership appear to have faded, Western Balkan countries are pinning their hopes on joining the EU's Schengen visa-free travel area, diplomatic sources told EurActiv news agency.  Hoping to avoid another surge in nationalism and fend off anti-European resentment among their population, Western Balkan countries are viewing elimination of visa barriers with the EU as a growing priority, diplomats from applicant countries told EurActiv.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the ambassador of one Western Balkan country admitted that as Europe struggles to improve the functioning of its institutions, politicians throughout the region have understood that, except for Croatia, EU membership is not a goal that can be attained in the medium term.

However, delaying EU entry prospects would require in return reassurances for Balkan countries that they have not been "forgotten", the diplomat added, saying scrapping visa requirements would seem to be the most suitable step. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic recently said that his country had met all the conditions of its EU accession roadmap, and thus its citizens could expect "good news", the BETA news agency reported.

However, the mood in many Western capitals is not in favour of lifting the visa requirement, with countries like France and Germany preferring the term "visa liberalisation", which entails easing visas delivery for students, scholars, businessmen and the like. Visa-free travel for the entire region seems to be only a long-term goal, sources told EurActiv.

In addition, the unresolved conflict in Kosovo makes it difficult for the EU to decide on lifting the visa regime for Belgrade. If visas were abolished, ethnic Albanians from Kosovo would be able to claim Serbian passports, an EU official explained. In the same way, if one of the countries in the region were able to lift visa barriers earlier than others, it could have a destabilising effect as ethnic minorities from across the Western Balkans would likely try to claim passports. If Macedonia were to break the visa barrier, for instance, thousands of Albanians and Kosovars might line up in Skopje for passports, the official elaborated. He did not deny that EU countries generally fear waves of ethnic Albanian immigration.