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WORLD NEWS Thursday 8 February 2018

Turkey says it's met EU criteria for visa-free travel to EU

By SUZAN FRASER weakening Turkey's strug-
LORNE COOK gle against terrorism, and
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A these were submitted to
senior Turkish official said the EU," Kalin said.
Wednesday that the coun- Brussels confirmed Wednes-
try has fulfilled all 72 require- day that Erdogan will meet
ments set by the European in Varna, Bulgaria, on
Union to secure visa-free March 26 with Commis-
travel for Turkish citizens to sion President Jean-Claude
the 28-nation bloc. Juncker, European Coun-
Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman cil President Donald Tusk
for President Recep Tayyip and Bulgarian Prime Minis-
Erdogan, said Turkey had ter Boyko Borissov, whose
submitted all related docu- country holds the bloc's ro-
ments to EU officials ahead tating presidency.
of an EU-Turkey summit in The Commission said the
March. Kalin said he hoped talks will focus on "subjects
the right to visa-free travel of mutual interest and re-
would be implemented in cent developments in Tur-
2018, adding that it would key. That includes obviously
give "a new momentum to the rule of law and funda-
Turkish-EU relations." mental rights." The EU is con-
Visa liberalization was a key cerned about a media and
part of a 2016 EU-Turkey justice crackdown in Turkey
deal aimed at stemming that followed the failed
the flow of tens of thou- Turkey's President and leader of Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses coup and Ankara's military
sands of migrants to Eu- the members of his ruling party at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. campaign in northern Syria
rope, but Turkey had failed (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) against the Kurds. It is wary,
to meet some of the crite- however, of angering a
ria, including amending military coup in 2016, and dogan could not be seen "Certain arrangements country upon which it de-
antiterror laws. with suicide bombers regu- to be backing down in the were made in a way that pends to limit the flow of
Kalin said all outstand- larly striking Turkish cities, Er- fight against extremism. will not pave the way for migrants into Europe.q
ing criteria had been met,
But the European Commis- Snow causes major travel disruptions in France
without providing details.
sion, which verifies compli-
ance, was not so upbeat. By SAM PETREQUIN delayed, while the Paris housing places for home- could deliver their stocks.
A spokeswoman acknowl- PARIS (AP) — Heavy snow- police prefecture urged less people. Transport minister Elisa-
edged that Turkey's am- fall is causing major travel drivers to leave their cars Despite the huge traffic beth Borne noted some
bassador "handed over a disruptions in the northern at home to avoid creat- jams, Paris police chief Mi- improvement but said the
paper regarding the re- half of France and in Paris ing more traffic jams on chel Delpuech praised the traffic remained "difficult,"
maining visa liberalization after the weather condi- Wednesday. On subway measures put in place, es- adding that gritting teams
benchmarks" to Commis- tions caught authorities off services in Paris, commut- pecially the decision to would continue to hit the
sion Vice-President Frans guard. ers faced long journeys in prevent trucks from enter- roads as a cold wave is ex-
Timmermans during talks on Hundreds of people spent packed carriages. In Velizy, ing the Paris region that pected to sweep the coun-
Wednesday. the night trapped in their a small town in the suburbs was enforced Tuesday af- try in the coming days.
"The Commission will now vehicles or in improvised of Paris, about 200 people ternoon. Rail traffic was slowed
study the paper carefully," shelters outside Paris after unable to make it back Delpuech said 3,790 trucks down, too. France’s nation-
she said, noting that re- French authorities failed to home were put up for the were stopped, a move al operator SNCF reduced
specting the benchmarks clear roads on time. The night in a commercial mall that contributed to decon- the speed of its high-speed
requires "legislative and snowy episode — up to 15 and a sports hall. Some gesting roads. He added TGV trains because of the
procedural changes." centimeters (6 inches) in 1,500 others slept in 46 re- that only 47 people were snow, and advised custom-
Among other requirements, the Paris region — brought ception shelters opened in injured across the region, ers to postpone their trips.
the EU had demanded that some excitement to Pari- the French capital. and that no fatal car crash Ten French departments
Turkey change its definition sians, though, with some In anticipation of the had been recorded. remained on orange alert
of what constitutes a "ter- putting on their skis to tack- cold, the "Grand Froid" "A total of 73 salting vehi- over the dangerous weath-
rorism offense," to ensure le the Montmartre slopes, plan — which translates cles treated 700 kilometers er conditions and ice on
that security laws are not where the Sacre Coeur ba- as "Big Cold" — had been of roads," Delpuech said, the roads by Wednesday
used to crack down on the silica is located. launched earlier this week adding that the ban on afternoon, and school bus-
media or academics. Several flights from Paris in 22 departments in order trucks was lifted Wednes- es in several regions were
But in light of Turkey's failed airports were canceled or to create about 1,000 extra day to guarantee they halted. q