Clark Boyd

Clark Boyd

Clark Boyd is a reporter for The World. From advances in technology to the ups and downs of the markets, he has reported from many different countries for the show. He is now based out of the Boston newsroom.

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A Turkish Song About Visa Hurdles

December 13, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment
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Schengen passport stamp from Helsinki, departure by ferry. (Photo: krif/Wikipedia)

Schengen passport stamp from Helsinki, departure by ferry. (Photo: krif/Wikipedia)

“Complicated” is a good word to describe Turkey’s relationship with the European Union.

Turkey formally applied for EU membership in 1987.

It was officially recognized as a candidate for full membership 12 years later, but today it remains embroiled in membership negotiations.

Meanwhile, Turkish citizens have to go through a long and bureaucratic process to travel to the EU. Rules make it tough for Turks to get a visa and many spend long hours in line, waiting.

One Turkish musician, Sarp Yeletaysi, decided to tackle the matter with humor and wrote a song about the visa hurdles. It’s called “Schengen Macht Frei.”

 

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Discussion

2 comments for “A Turkish Song About Visa Hurdles”

  • Anonymous

    EU countries and US also make good profit charging steep visa fees.

  • Anonymous

    Turkey is a long way from being ready to join the EU.  Turkey is not a European nation because its people and government do not have European sensibilities.  They still have serious problems with freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and other civil liberties that took Europe 500 years to develop.  The rest of Asia is trying to catch up but, including Turkey, it still has a long way to go.