Hit by adverse winds during the Arab Spring, Turkey suffered serious setbacks in foreign relations over the past three years. Ankara is trying to open new maneuvering room for itself, taking the Armenia and Cyprus files down from the shelf. The most significant move, however, came with the European Union.

At a ceremony in Ankara on Dec. 16, Turkey and the EU signed the Readmission Agreement, which was the biggest obstacle in the way of a visa-free travel for Turks in the Schengen zone. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bagis and EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom attended the ceremony.

The signing of the agreement followed the EU’s decision on Nov. 5 to open negotiations on a new policy chapter with Ankara, reviving the membership talks after a three-year impasse. The talks had ground to a halt over Turkey’s refusal to open its sea and air ports to Greek Cypriot vessels despite recognizing the Cyprus Republic by signing the customs union additional protocol in 2005.

Under fire for having abandoned its EU bid, Ankara presented the latest agreement as the start of a three-year monitoring process which would result in visa-free EU travel for Turks. The real situation, however, is slightly different.