Initiative by Three Ministries for TIR Drivers' Schengen Visa Issues

The Ministry of Trade announced that diplomatic initiatives are being intensively pursued under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to eliminate the problems encountered by TIR drivers during Schengen visa processes.

According to a written statement made by the Ministry of Trade, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat held talks with his Bulgarian counterpart and European Commission officials, working in coordination with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. During these contacts, visa facilitation and priority processing flexibility for drivers were requested.

The disruptions experienced by TIR drivers regarding visa restrictions and application processes at the Kapıkule and Hamzabeyli customs gates in Edirne are being monitored by the relevant institutions. The Ministry noted that steps are being taken through diplomatic channels to ensure foreign trade continues uninterrupted and to remedy the grievances of transporters.

In the statement, it was emphasized that transport companies and drivers must pay utmost attention to current Schengen visa rules and length-of-stay limits in order to prevent potential congestion at customs gates and possible grievances.