GETTY The EU is set to pass an agreement which will give visa-free travel to Turkish residents

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Under the proposals expected to be passed by the European Commission, tourists from the countries will be able to move freely within the 26-member Schengen zone for up to three months. Turkey, which has a population of 75million, is set to receive visa-free travel for its habitants as part of a controversial deal with the EU to help curb the flow of migrants arriving in Europe. Under the agreement, all “irregular migrants” arriving in Greece face being sent back to Turkey. For every migrant returned, another Syrian refugee will be resettled from Turkey to the EU, with numbers capped at 72,000.

Turkey has not fully complied with an agreement to pass more than 70 pieces of legislation to qualify for the waiver scheme, which mainly relate to human rights and media freedom. Ankara has so far met fewer than half of the so-called benchmarks. But the European Commission is expected to endorse the plan on Wednesday to approve visa-free travel to Europe for Turkey, Kosovo, Georgia and Ukraine.

GETTY David Cameron and Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu

We have not lowered our standards. Turkey has raised its game

A senior EU official involved in the negotiations said: "We have not lowered our standards. Turkey has raised its game.” Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has warned Ankara would stop carrying out its side of the bargain by taking back migrants who reach Greece if Europe does not deliver on its commitment. Sceptics including Germany and France have proposed a new “emergency brake” that could suspend visa-free travel for countries that no longer meet the specific criteria.

However, commission officials have indicated the idea has been rejected. Turkish EU ambassador Selim Yenel said: "Apparently, the Franco-German proposal aims at appeasing the possible fears of some EU nations and perhaps make it easier to win the support of some members states.

GETTY The EU-Turkey deal involves an agreement on the migrant crisis

"We are not worried about these proposals but believe that the current safeguards are sufficient already." Tourists would still need to apply for a visa to enter Britain which is not part of the Schengen zone.

GETTY German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mr Davutoglu