Necmi ÇELİK
A positive first step has been taken in overcoming the problems encountered in obtaining visas for truck drivers to Europe. In order to overcome the obstacles regarding the Schengen visa, the International Forwarders Association (UND) management continues its meetings with the Istanbul consulates and ambassadors of the EU member countries.
A positive response came from Greece and Romania regarding the acceleration of visa processes. International Transporters Association (UND) will manage the visa issues of the drivers of member companies from a single center. UND will be the only authorized agency for truck drivers’ Greece Schengen visa applications as of December 1.
It hurts economies
UND President Şerafettin Aras evaluated the developments regarding visas for European countries to DÜNYA Newspaper. Reminding that the Schengen visa issue is not only a problem experienced by truck drivers, Aras said, “The issue of obtaining a visa to Europe has become the biggest problem of business people, senior company managers, university professors, scientists, students and everyone.” Şerafettin Aras stated that the problems experienced regarding visas harm the European economies the most and said:
“As the International Transporters Association, we see the visa problem of truck drivers as an argument that affects the economy. In fact, Europe is doing the damage to itself here. The visa problem experienced by Turkish truck drivers also affects Europe’s own economy. Because logistics companies in Turkey and Turkish truck drivers carry the burden of Europe to the Middle East and Central Asia. There is a serious difference between the numerical value of the products we export to Europe and the numerical value of the products we import from Europe.
In this regard, Europe should put the visa issue in a separate category for drivers. Because the visa issue currently affects all economies. Recently, the German Prime Minister was in Turkey and expressed the same thing. “We need to keep this visa issue out of the factors affecting the economy,” he said. “Unfortunately, despite these statements, we are all experiencing this visa problem in the same way today.”
We made a good start with Romania and Greece
Describing the recent work carried out by UND and the steps it has taken, Şerafettin Aras gave the following information: “If you ask what we are doing as UND, the situation is this: We are meeting with embassies and consulates. We wrote letters to all the parliamentarians of Europe. We went to Brussels and had meetings with our interlocutors there and the leading authorities in this field. We discussed with each of them what can be done to solve this visa issue. We tell all of them, ‘If there are Schengen rules, follow them.’
In addition, we met with the Romanian Consul in Istanbul. At least, we ensured that a UND reference letter with the content “Yes, this person is an international truck driver” was added to the applications of those working as truck drivers in UND member workplaces. Likewise, as a result of negotiations with the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul, they recognized UND as the only authorized agency for driver visas in Istanbul as of December 1.
Now the passports will come to UND and UND will check the documents. If there are any missing items, we will complete and edit them and send them to Kosmos, the intermediary institution, with a reference letter attached. Kosmos will deliver these passports to the Greek Consulate in Istanbul. With this collaboration, it was aimed for UND to support the completion of the application process more efficiently and faster. “On this occasion, I would like to thank the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul and its intermediary institution, Kosmos, for their trust in our Association.”
“Other European countries “We are meeting with
Stating that negotiations are continuing with the consulates of other countries, Aras said, “There are those we have met with and those we have not been able to meet with. We conveyed our plans, projects and opinions to the diplomatic representatives we met. We are waiting for a response from them now. I hope that we will provide a new development that will relieve the logistics industry in a short period of time. And we can bring a solution where drivers can obtain visas more conveniently and faster. “We believe that after creating such a system, we will relieve our truck drivers regarding visa issues,” he said.
Reminding that the biggest obstacle in visa applications arises in terms of appointments and that sometimes appointments take up to 2-3 months, UND President noted the following on this subject; “Undoubtedly, one of the biggest problems here is making an appointment. There are great problems either because the appointment systems do not work properly or because the appointments are given late. More importantly, we have difficulty making an appointment because they always put drivers, business people, academics and students in the same category.
As a result, TIR drivers should be considered as an “Urgent and Priority” group on the basis of their important role in the sustainability of the European economy and road trade between the European-Eurasian regions and their position as service providers within the Turkey-EU common Customs Union area, and Schengen visa applications can be made without requiring an appointment. “It is of great importance for the parties.”
UND is the only authorized agency for visa applications
UND Management has been working intensively for a long time to facilitate the visa application processes of professional truck drivers working in the logistics sector. In this context, as a result of negotiations with the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul and the Foreign Service Provider “Kosmos Visa Services”, the visa applications of TIR drivers were collected from a single point. According to the information provided, with the cooperation that will be launched on December 1, 2024, all Schengen visa applications for truck drivers to the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul will be made through UND.
Following the approval of the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul, UND will be the only authorized institution that forwards the Greek Schengen visa applications of truck drivers to Kosmos, the external service provider of the Consulate General of Greece. In the statement on the UND corporate page, thanks to the UND & Kosmos cooperation, it is aimed to carry out the visa application process more reliably by proving and checking the application documents and submitting the applications to Kosmos and the Greek Consulate in Istanbul as “UND Applications”. transferred.
According to the statement, in the cooperation that will be initiated as of December 1, 2024, UND’s field of duty in the first stage will be limited to “Istanbul”. Truck driver visa applications from Istanbul will first be delivered to UND. Within the framework of the daily quota to be defined to UND by the Consulate General of Greece; The appointment, application and finalization processes of the passports delivered to UND will be followed by UND and the applicant companies will be informed of all developments.
Source: www.dunya.com
