Sweden to assist Turkey with EU accession, visa liberalization
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As of now, there are no specific deadlines ahead for prompt consideration of Sweden's bid for NATO membership by the Turkish Parliament.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 10, 2023 (AP)
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that Sweden has agreed to assist Turkey with the process of becoming an EU member state and help with visa liberalization.
"On EU, that’s not an issue for NATO that is an issue for the European Union but what Sweden agreed today as an EU member was to support actively the efforts to invigorate Turkey – EU accession process and also to help to modernize the EU – Turkey custom union and visa liberalization," Stoltenberg told a press conference.
The comments come after Stoltenberg held a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, during which Erdogan agreed to back Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
In a statement published by the White House, US President Joe Biden said he welcomes Turkey's pledge to transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to Turkey's National Assembly for ratification, noting that he is ready to work on enhancing Ankara's defense.
Turkey agreed to back Sweden’s NATO bid. NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg, after meeting with @RTErdogan & @SwedishPM, said that Turkish President Erdoğan has agreed to ratify Swedish NATO bid. He expressed confidence that Hungary will drop its opposition. Well done President Biden. pic.twitter.com/vtqIhv2X30
— Tony - Resistance (@TonyHussein4) July 10, 2023
A source familiar with the matter said that as of now, there are no specific deadlines ahead for prompt consideration of Sweden's bid for NATO membership by the Turkish Parliament. The endeavor is likely to take time, they noted.
Read more: US pushes back as Erdogan links Sweden’s NATO entry to Turkey’s EU bid
Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year, citing changes in the European security picture because of the Ukraine crisis. As Finland went on to become a member, Turkey, and Hungary stymied Sweden's bid, with Budapest citing grievances over Stockholm's criticism of Hungary's Prime Minister and Ankara accusing Sweden of harboring what it considers Kurdish terrorists and, most recently, meddling in Turkish elections.
Erdogan stated that mere changes in Swedish law regarding terrorism are insufficient for Ankara to approve its NATO bid.
Back in May, shortly after Erdogan's reelection, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said it was "absolutely possible" to decide on Sweden's NATO membership before the alliance's summit that was set for 11-12 July 2023, in Vilnius.
