The Commission adopted its first EU Visa Strategy, which sets out a framework for a visa policy that promotes the EU’s long-term interests. This strategy makes visa policy more strategic and better equipped to respond to increasing mobility, regional instability and geopolitical competition. The Strategy has the following objectives: strengthenthe security of the Schengen […]
Georgia: Council suspends visa-free travel for diplomats and officials
Today, the Council decided to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. This may lead to Georgian diplomats and officials having to apply for visa when travelling to the EU. “Fundamental rights and democratic values are core principles of EU integration. Officials that represent a country which trample down these values should not […]
Council and European Parliament agree on rules to digitalise the visa procedure
Council negotiators and the European Parliament have provisionally agreed on rules to digitalise the visa procedure. The regulation introduces the possibility to apply for a visa online and replaces the current visa sticker with a digital visa. The goal of the proposal is twofold: to make the visa application procedure more efficient and to improve […]
Council adopts full suspension of visa facilitation with Russia
The Council adopted a decision that fully suspends the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia. Consequently, the general rules of the visa code will apply to Russian citizens. This will result in an increase in the visa application fee from €35 to €80, the need to present additional documentary evidence, increased visa processing […]
Commission proposes full suspension of Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia
The Commission is proposing to fully suspend the EU’s Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia. A country like Russia, waging a war of aggression, should not qualify for visa facilitations as long as it continues conducting its destructive foreign policy and military aggression towards Ukraine, demonstrating a complete disregard to the international rules-based order. The suspension […]
EU foreign ministers agree to suspend visa facilitation agreement
On 30 and 31 August 2022, Prague hosted an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers known as a Gymnich. The ministers primarily discussed two topics, namely the EU’s relations with Africa and the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The main outcome of the meeting was agreement among the Member States to suspend the visa facilitation agreement. […]