EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara to discuss shared priorities. She emphasized the EU’s openness to enhancing visa cooperation and border management.

Talks hint at potential visa developments next year, addressing complaints of long processing times and high rejection rates Turkish nationals face. Türkiye's Foreign Minister urged faster progress on visa liberalization, citing economic losses from increased visa denials.

Additionally, Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to EU membership, highlighting its strategic importance for both parties. Membership discussions began in 2005, and although they faced obstacles, they remain a key goal for Türkiye.

A tragic crash at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killed at least five people. The suspect, identified as a Saudi Arabian man, has sparked far-right leaders across Europe to amplify anti-immigration and anti-Islam rhetoric.

Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) and leaders like Geert Wilders, Marine Le Pen, and Nigel Farage have linked the incident to broader immigration issues, despite no confirmed terrorist ties.

Wilders criticized open borders, while Le Pen labelled the act as "Islamist barbarity." Authorities continue investigations, urging calm amidst rising political tensions. Far-right rhetoric gains momentum as Europe debates its immigration policies.

Airport security lapses have allowed over 10,000 passengers to bypass UK immigration checks over seven years. Errors, often caused by human mistakes like incorrect gate directions, led to misdirected travellers avoiding passport control.

In 2023, 1,432 passengers were affected, nearly tripling the 2022 figure of 574 but lower than pre-pandemic numbers. Some passengers were later redirected to immigration checks, but others exited undetected.

Migrationwatch UK expressed concerns over potential threats. AirportsUK emphasized the small scale of such incidents, attributing many to accidental wrong turns. Authorities and airports continue efforts to minimize security gaps and maintain robust processes.