European Commission Do you think it’s time to review? European visa suspension mechanism to make it more rigorous and make the deduction easier. So far the suspension has only been ““sudden and significant increase” migration irregular or when there is risk security from member states. Brussels proposes to add new reasons to take into account “hybrid threats”, so-called “golden passports or visas” or the lack of compliance of third countries with European visa policy.
“We must ensure that our visa policy framework is not abused and that we have the authority to take action when this happens,” the vice president for immigration and security said. Margaritis Schinas. In light of the experience of recent years, Brussels has concluded that the current framework is not sufficient and needs to be adapted. “It needs more dynamism. It needs to be developed further. Add new reasons for suspension, new reasons for suspension of visas,” he added. And don’t just add to the causes. commission It also proposes to increase suspension periods to up to 36 months and strengthens monitoring obligations for all countries exempt from this requirement where problems have been identified.
“Last year we received approximately 150,000 asylum applications from countries that do not require visas. That is huge. And you should not use visa exemptions like this,” the immigration commissioner said. Ylva JohanssonThis adds a second problem that the current mechanism cannot solve: the problem of third countries whose citizens are exempt from visa requirements. European Union They sell “fairly cheap” passports, without the requirement to reside in the country, to “persons who pose a risk or potential risk to the security of the European Union.” “Sometimes they are allowed to change their names and identities several times after receiving new citizenship. This also poses a risk to the security of the European Union, which we need to examine,” the Swede said. said.
HE visa exemption regime It currently allows citizens from 60 countries to travel to the EU for short-term stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period without the need to apply for a visa. A mechanism allowing temporary suspension in the event of a sudden and significant increase in irregular migration was introduced in 2013 and revised in 2017 to allow Brussels to activate this mechanism motu proprio. The European Commission is now proposing another amendment that the Council and the European Parliament must negotiate.
More repatriation
Brussels reminded us of the importance of visa policy, as well as a more “robust” visa policy. Returning illegal immigrants to the EU As proposed in the return directive, it will be mandatory for people who pose a threat to security and negotiations will continue. asylum and migration agreementand not voluntary as it is now. “Today, according to existing legislation, it is at the discretion of Member States to decide whether persons with a repatriation decision will be forced to return to the country (of origin). This should be mandatory,” he warned. The EU makes approximately 400,000 export decisions every year. Nearly 65,000 people returned in all of 2023, representing a “20% increase.”
“There will be no asylum and migration policy in the European Union without a distinct culture of return, in other words Europe will always remain a place of refuge for those fleeing war, persecution and discrimination “But those who have no reason to be under the protection of the European Union cannot stay with us,” his colleague Schinas said, insisting that all people be repatriated when there is “evidence that they are linked to security threats”.