Key points from the agreement Criticism Critics have said the deal could force migrants determined to reach Europe to start using other and potentially more dangerous routes , such as the journey between North Africa and Italy . Human rights groups have strong criticism about the deal , with Amnesty International accusing the EU of turning " its back on a global refugee crisis " . A Chatham House paper argued that the deal , by excessively accommodating Erdogan 's demands , is encouraging Turkey to extract " more unilateral concessions in the future . " The EU Commissioner of Interior Affairs Cecilia Malmström indicated on 29 September 2011 that visa requirement for Turkish citizens will eventually be discontinued . Visa liberalisation will be ushered in several phases . Initial changes were expected in the autumn of 2011 , which would include the reduction of visa paperwork , more multi-entry visas , and extended stay periods . In June 2012 , the EU authorised the beginning of negotiations with Turkey on visa exemptions for its citizens . Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bağış stated that he expected the process to take 3 – 4 years . The current visa policy of the EU is a cause of much concern for Turkish businessmen , politicians and Turks with family members in the EU . Egemen Bağış described the situation as : " Even non-candidate countries such as Russia , Ukraine , Moldova and Georgia are currently negotiating for visa-free travel . " In September 2012 , Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan , during a meeting at the WKÖ , said : " We have had a Customs Union for 17 years , and half of our ( Turkey 's ) external trade is with Europe . Our goods can move freely , but a visa is required for the owner of the goods . This is a violation of human rights . " In December 2013 , after signing a readmission agreement , the EU launched a visa liberalisation dialogue with Turkey including a " Roadmap towards the visa-free regime " . After the November 2015 2015 G20 Antalya summit held in Antalya , Turkey there was a new push forward in Turkey 's EU accession negotiations , including a goal of lifting the visa requirement for Turkish citizens . The EU welcomed the Turkey 's commitment to accelerate the fulfilment of the Visa Roadmap benchmarks set forth by participating EU member states . A joint action plan was drafted with the European Commission which developed a roadmap with certain benchmarks for the elimination of the visa requirement . The agreement called for abolishing visas for Turkish citizens within a year if certain conditions are satisfied
2015 G20 Antalya summit
2015 G20 Antalya summit
European Union–Turkey relations