The European Union plans to tighten visa-free entry rules for certain visa-exempt third countries to curb irregular migration to the bloc.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson announced this move, stating that the authority will soon formally propose changes to the visa regime, according to Schengen.News.
In letters seen by Euractiv, Commissioner Johansson indicated that the Commission would propose tighter rules in July 2024, invoking a clause that allows the suspension of visa privileges for countries that do not cooperate in the readmission of their citizens.
In July, the Commission will issue proposals on visa measures under Article 25a of the Visa Code.
This means that countries failing to cooperate in the readmission of their citizens whose asylum applications have been rejected by the EU will face suspension of their visa-free entry privileges without further warnings.
Although the official proposal is pending, Commissioner Johansson urged authorities to begin negotiations on revising the visa suspension mechanisms as soon as possible.
Commissioner Johansson stated that tightening the rules will reduce irregular migration and decrease the number of rejected asylum applications from nationals of visa-free countries.
The revision of the visa suspension mechanism] will reduce irregular immigration by tackling the huge number of unfounded asylum applications from visa-exempt countries, making the mechanism easier to apply and strengthening its deterrent effect.
According to Euractiv, the reform of the mechanism has been under discussion for some time, but MEPs must formally approve changes to this particular clause of the Visa Code before the rule can be tightened.
Recently, the EU proposed to permanently suspend visa-free travel for Vanuatu due to the country’s failure to address irregular migration and security risks associated with its investor citizenship schemes.
In May of this year, the EU Commission proposed a permanent suspension of visa-free travel privileges for Vanuatu, following a temporary suspension in May 2022 that proved ineffective.