(VOVworld) – On Thursday, Turkey confirmed it would hold new membership talks with the European Union next week when the EU grants Turkish people visa-free travel to the passport-free Schengen zone.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a joint press conference with Turkish Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister after their meeting in Ankara, on June 22, 2016 (Photo: AFP)

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he would hold talks with EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans on June 30, which would also be attended by Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag and EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik. Mr. Cavusoglu said Turkey wanted to discuss the visa exemption but the EU needed to keep its previous commitment to Ankara. He said Turkey is facing increasing violence in the conflict with the Kurdish people, thus it can’t amend anti-terrorism laws as requested by the EU.