Volkan Bozk

Turkey's EU Minister Volkan Bozk?r has voiced optimism for overcoming possible resistance at the European Parliament over approval of lifting visa requirements for Turkish citizens, after the European Commission said on May 4 that Ankara has met most of the necessary 72 criteria, inviting member states and EU lawmakers to endorse the move by June 30.

Turkey is expecting a big step from the European Union on May 4 toward ending visa requirements for Turkish citizens, as a deal to get Turkey to stop migrants from entering the bloc gathers pace.

The EU's executive commission is expected to invite member states and lawmakers to vote before the end of June to lift visas on Turks for short-term leisure or business stays. 

The forthcoming two days mark a crucial 48 hours for Turkey to come one step closer to having its citizens granted visa-free travel inside the European Union, as part of the Turkey-EU migrant deal reached to curb the flow of migrants into the bloc. 

Here is a brief list of what happened as May Day began in Turkey: 

There will be no migrant deal with the European Union if visas are not lifted for Turkish citizens as agreed in a Turkey-EU deal in mid-March, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said. 

"If they do not implement visa-liberalization [for Turkish citizens], then we will not implement the readmission agreement. These [things] are linked," Davuto?lu said in Doha on April 28.

A few hours after Turkey's European Union Affairs Minister Volkan Bozk?r said the government could fulfil all necessary benchmarks by May 2 for visa-free travel for Turkish citizens within the EU, the parliament in Ankara had to take a two-day recess due to escalating tension among deputies.

Turkey will fulfill all 72 criteria required to ensure the European Union grants its citizens visa-free travel by a May 4 deadline, Turkish EU Minister and Chief EU Negotiator Volkan Bozk?r said April 28. 

The Turkish government is certain it will obtain the right to visa-free travel for its citizens from the European Union in June within the scope of a Turkey-EU deal reached in March. 

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said Turkish citizens would be granted visa-free travel in June after Turkey completes the necessary requirements as part of the deal.

The Turkish government is certain it will obtain the right to visa-free travel for its citizens from the European Union in June within the scope of a Turkey-EU deal reached in March. 

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said Turkish citizens would be granted visa-free travel in June after Turkey completes the necessary requirements as part of the deal.

The Turkish government received three strong messages on the quality of its democracy and rights from three Western partners on the same day on April 14. The messages from the European Parliament (EP), the U.S.