Visa-free travel: new suspension mechanism protects the EU

Today, Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs voted to review the visa suspension mechanism which can be applied to all visa-free travel agreements that the EU has with third countries. The upgraded suspension mechanism will protect EU countries by making it easier for them to flag irregularities that justify a break with the visa agreement and a reintroduction of visa conditions.

EPP Group Spokesman, Agustín Díaz de Mera MEP, said: “The changes agreed provide flexibility in cases where the suspension mechanism has to be rapidly activated. The agreement will facilitate the immediate consideration of the two visa liberalisation proposals for Georgia and Ukraine.”

The review of the suspension mechanism is linked to the proposals under discussion to grant visa-free access to the EU to Ukrainian and Georgian nationals.

“It is time to deliver now on a visa waiver for Georgia and Ukraine! On Wednesday next week, we will start inter-institutional talks on Georgia and I urge the Council to immediately remove its opposition to starting talks on Ukraine”, said the European Parliament Spokeswoman on visa liberalisation for Georgia and Ukraine, Mariya Gabriel MEP. Inter-institutional talks are needed to iron out the details of the visa waiver. Gabriel added: “Both countries have made tremendous efforts to reform and have fulfilled all the requested criteria. The European Parliament has endorsed them by an overwhelming majority. As reliable partners, it is crucial to deliver timely on our commitment and I hope next week we will be able to send good news to Georgian and Ukrainian citizens.”

According to the new suspension agreement, visa requirements can be reintroduced for a non-EU country in one or more of three possible circumstances: a significant increase in the number of that country’s nationals being refused entry or staying irregularly on EU territory; a substantial increase in baseless asylum applications; or poor cooperation in cases of readmission. Visas could also be reintroduced if public policy or internal security are threatened and if such threats are linked to nationals of the third country concerned.

The reviewed suspension mechanism will make it easier for Member States to highlight a change in circumstances that might warrant a suspension by shortening reference periods and deadlines to allow for quicker processing. Specifically, the reference period used to compare a situation that could warrant a suspension with the circumstances of the previous year or before visa liberalisation was introduced, is shortened from six to two months.

The European Commission will be responsible for monitoring the situation in visa-exempt countries and reporting to Parliament and the Council on their status in fulfilling the visa waiver conditions, which include respect for human rights. The Commission’s decision to suspend the visa waiver, which will be in place for a minimum of nine months, will take automatic effect. In cases where irregularities persist, the Commission will have to propose prolonging the temporary reinstatement of visa requirements for an additional 18 months, pending the approval of MEPs and the EU Member States.

The visa suspension mechanism will not apply to Ireland or the UK. Next week, the dossier will go to the vote in the European Parliament plenary before being presented for the approval of national governments.