Be afraid. Be very afraid. “Britain’s new border is with Syria and Iraq”, Vote Leave has warned its Twitter followers, brandishing an alarming graphic (see below). The message is seriously misleading.
Assuming that it is implemented, the EU’s deal allowing Turks freer travel will only cover the Schengen area.Turkish citizens, visiting for up to 90 days, won’t need a visa to visit Schengen member countries. But the UK and Ireland – the only country we share a land border with – have opted out of Schengen. If Turks are allowed into Schengen countries, we will not be affected.
Turkish visitors to the UK will still need visas. Like European tourists, they will still need to pass through UK border controls, presenting a passport at a security check. Moreover, one of the conditions for the deal is that Turkish authorities beef up the security features in their passports, bringing them up to EU standards by October.
Turkey would not be unique in having the right to visa-free visits. The EU already grants similar access to South Korea and Israel, which by Vote Leave’s logic means we already border North Korea and Syria–apparently without being overrun by citizens of either country. For that matter, the UK has its own deals with South Korea and Israel, too. Not for the first time, an EU institution is being attacked for doing something that the UK also does.
Vote Leave declined to comment.