(2004/C 78 E/0383)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1272/03

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Subject:   Discrimination in the treatment of citizens of EU Member States by the Turkish government

Is the Commission aware that there is discrimination between Netherlands and German citizens with regard to the fee charged for a residence permit in Turkey, i.e. EUR 277 for by Netherlands citizens and EUR 60 for Germans for the same permit?

Does the Commission know how much the Turkish government charges citizens of other EU Member States for a residence permit?

If the Commission prepared to bring pressure to bear on the Turkish authorities with a view to ending this discrimination against Netherlands citizens, and possibly citizens of other EU Member States?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2003)

The Commission is aware that different fees are charged for residence permits according to the nationality of Union citizens and intends to take this issue up in the context of its regular contacts with the Turkish authorities.

A new law on Work Permit for Foreigners' was adopted by the Turkish Parliament on 27 February 2003. The law states that Union citizens will be granted a work permit without any time limitation in Turkey. Union citizens with a work permit will automatically be granted a residence permit covering the same period. The law also sets fixed fee rates for work permits to be issued to all foreigners (regardless of their nationality). The provisions in the recently adopted law may have implications on fee rates applied for residence permits.