Visa game beyond the EU notes: Restoring visa-free regime for Turkey is not in line with Brussels policy

The restoration of the visa-free regime for Turkish citizens, even with a reduction in the stay to 30 days, does not solve the essential problem and may further burden relations with the European Union (EU), believes the former Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP). Mileta Radovanić, while representatives of the Brussels administration warn of Montenegro's obligation to fully align with the European visa policy in order to meet the final benchmark for Chapter 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security).

The EU Delegation in Podgorica told "Vijesti" that, as has been repeatedly emphasized, especially in the annual enlargement reports, the European Commission (EC) expects Montenegro to, as a priority, continue to align with the EU visa policy in order to meet the final benchmark for Chapter 24.

This, they stated, implies full harmonisation with the list of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter the EU, which includes the permanent abolition of the visa-free regime with Turkey.

The government on Tuesday lifted the temporary suspension of the visa-free regime for Turkish citizens, reducing the permitted stay from 90 to 30 days, two months after visas were introduced for Turkey following the incidents in Zabjelo in late October. They explained that this was “a measure to prevent illegal migration, and in order to harmonize with the EU visa policy.”

Radovanić (GP URA) recalls that the European Commission (EC) has been insisting for years on the full harmonisation of Montenegro's visa policy with the EU's visa policy, precisely because of the risk of secondary migration and security challenges.

"Such sudden turns and partial solutions send a message of inconsistency and can be interpreted as a deviation from the commitments made in the accession process. Instead of a clear strategy and a consistent European course, the Government is sending signals that it treats visa policy as a tool for short-term political calculations," said Radovanić.

The EU Delegation said that the EC is closely monitoring compliance in the visa field through the visa suspension mechanism.

They recalled that, in addition to the ongoing work under Chapter 24, Montenegro has also committed to further align its list of countries whose citizens require a visa with the EU list, by removing one country from its visa-free list every year.

"This additional obligation is part of the Reform Agenda of Montenegro within the Growth Plan," the Delegation stated.

Montenegro, in accordance with EU requirements, should introduce visas for Russia, Belarus, China, Azerbaijan...

Turkey was also on the list of countries whose citizens did not need a visa until the end of October this year. The reason for the government to abolish the visa-free regime with that country was an incident that occurred on October 25 in the Podgorica neighborhood of Zabjelo, when a Podgorica resident, MJ (25), was stabbed. Although the police initially claimed that Turkish and Azerbaijani citizens were involved in the wounding, it was eventually determined that the Podgorica resident was allegedly wounded by two Azerbaijanis.

The recently published EC Visa Policy Report states that after a setback in early 2025, Montenegro later abolished visa-free agreements with five countries and reduced the number of seasonal visa-free regimes from four to one.

"As a result, the total number of inconsistencies between Montenegro's visa policy and the EU's visa policy has been reduced from 15 to 9," it said.

“SERIOUS CONFUSION”

Radovanić believes that the government's decision to first suspend and then re-establish the visa-free regime for Turkish citizens in the space of just two months shows serious confusion and the absence of a clear visa and foreign policy strategy.

"You cannot announce at the end of October that there is a serious security and migration risk, suspend the visa-free regime and send a message about tightened control, and then reverse that decision at the end of December without a clear and publicly presented explanation of what has changed in the meantime," he said.

He warns that visa policy must not be conducted ad hoc, under pressure from individual events or political interests, because such an approach undermines trust in institutions and leaves the impression of frivolous and unpredictable state policy.

According to him, the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is particularly worrying, as it had to ensure serious consultations, both with domestic institutions and European partners, and provide a clear assessment of the consequences before making such decisions.

Part of the public criticized the decision to introduce visas for Turkish citizens, emphasizing that it was a consequence of hasty populism, and that the executive branch had succumbed to the xenophobic atmosphere in the country. After the incident in Zabjelo, a series of xenophobic incidents followed throughout the country. In Podgorica, Bar and Herceg Novi, catering facilities owned by Turkish citizens were demolished, a car owned by Turks was set on fire, “people’s patrols” were organized to “look for Turks” in Podgorica’s neighborhoods (under police escort), and a protest in front of the Government building called for the expulsion of Turks from Montenegro.

Ambassador of Turkey to Montenegro Baris Kalkavan He said in early November that if the decision to introduce visas for Turkish citizens was not withdrawn, Turkey would take reciprocal measures.

The introduction of visas for Turkey has also caused concern on the economic front, given that data from the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) and the Statistical Office (Monstat) show that Turks are the largest investors, that they account for five percent of tourism, and that they own 20 percent of companies in Montenegro.

According to Monstat data, tourists from Turkey last year accounted for 6,7 percent of the total number of guests, while they achieved 740 thousand overnight stays or 4,9 percent. Of the total number of passengers at both Montenegrin airports last year (2,8 million), 560 thousand or 20 percent were on flights between Montenegro and Turkey.

Data from the Central Bank of Montenegro shows that the highest amount of investment in the first eight months of this year came from Turkey. Turkish citizens invested 92,2 million euros in Montenegro during that period, which is 21 percent of total foreign direct investment.

Turkish capital is present in 14,5 thousand companies registered in Montenegro, or one in five.

On the other hand, a large number of Montenegrin citizens go to Turkey for treatment.

According to data from the Health Insurance Fund, 436 Montenegrin insured persons were sent to clinics in Turkey for treatment and diagnostics from the beginning of the year until October 29, which cost the state budget 2,27 million euros.

Radovanić: The government must support its decision with concrete results

Radovanić says that if the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claim that they justified the decision by strengthening cooperation with Turkish authorities and tightening security and migration checks, then they are obliged to substantiate this with concrete and measurable results.

"The public has the right to know how many entries have been refused, what kind of security data exchange has been established, how many checks have been carried out and what their effects are in practice. Also, regular and transparent reporting to the Parliament on the implementation of these measures is necessary," he said.

He warns that without clear criteria, deadlines and data, such explanations remain just political declarations, not proof that the Government is truly pursuing a responsible and serious security policy.

On Tuesday, after the lifting of visas for Turkey, the Government announced that its members had concluded that the Ministry of Interior and the Police Directorate had implemented all activities envisaged by the conclusions of the National Security Council regarding illegal migration.

"This Decision is part of a broader package of measures to harmonize visa policy with the European Union, which also includes the adjustment of visa policy in relation to third countries, in this case Azerbaijan, which will be harmonized by January 15," the statement said.