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Schengen Visa Restrictions Proposed by European Commission for Bangladesh, Iraq, and The Gambia

Bangladesh, Iraq, and Gambia could face Schengen Visa (C type visit visa) restrictions.

The European Commission is proposing to the European Parliament on 15 July to impose temporary prohibitions on temporary visas for visa applicants. The restriction will be imposed on the applicants from Bangladesh, Iraq, and The Gambia. The EU’s short-stay visa – Schengen Visa policy is tied to collaboration with member countries on readmitting their residents who do not have the right to stay in the EU, according to the amended Visa Code, which has been in effect since February 2020. 

Main motives of the policy for Schengen Visa

The main purposes of this announcement are:

  • Improving the three countries’ readmission collaboration with the EU;
  • Encouraging cooperation;
  • The EU must use all available tools, such as development cooperation, trade, and visas, to achieve this goal;
  • Strong and ongoing cooperation could also pave the way for more lenient visa policies.

Details of restrictions or ban

The degree of readmission cooperation with Bangladesh, Iraq, and the Gambia requires improvement, according to the Commission’s evaluation for the year 2019. Moreover, the Commission is taking into consideration subsequent developments to improve such collaboration. On the other hand, several procedural aspects of obtaining short-stay visas were addressed in the announced legislation, which is a ban on:

  • the exemption of several supporting documentation for some applicants bona fide travellers;
  • the optional visa charges exemption for applicants of diplomatic passports;
  • on maximum computation time. The limit of this duration will be just beyond 15 days;
  • compulsory issuance of multiple-entry visas with a long expiration date. 

Please Note!

Visa applicants who are family members of EU citizens or other EU freedom of movement applicants are exempt from the restrictions as these have been specified for the Schengen Visa short-term visa applications only.

http://visa-guru.com/schengen-visa-how-to-apply-it-in-2021/

Steps to be taken in the future

According to the policy, several steps will be part of this collaboration in the future too, which are:

  • The Commission will continue to engage and cooperate with the member states concerned to improve readmission collaboration;
  • The Parliament will review the Commission’s suggestions for the Implementation of Decisions. Furthermore, there will be an announcement of a conclusion on their acceptance. The measures will go into effect as soon as they are approved;
  • The Commission will seek to participate with the countries on the list in order to strengthen collaboration and general relations. In other words, the purpose of it will be the maintenance of an open and positive collaborative strategy that promotes speedy readmission advancement;
  • The Commission shall notify the European Parliament and the Council of the results accomplished within six months of the regulations taking effect;
  • The Commission may recommend repealing or amending existing visa restrictions, taking into consideration the Union’s overall relations with the countries in concern;
  • If the present restrictions failed, the Commission may implement a different step. For example, a steady increase in the regular visa price to €120 or €160 at the most.

The benefits of the policy

With the implementation of this announcement, there will be the following benefits:

  • This approach is part of a larger effort to implemented appropriate strategies;
  •  Under the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the EU will have a comprehensive migration management system. to promote migration policy’s external dimension;
  • This covers not only readmission but also issues such as money laundering, positively affecting the use of EU funds, and promoting lawful migration and movement.

The facts 

The announcement follows the:

  • Commission’s evaluation that the three countries’ collaboration with the EU on readmission issues is inadequate;
  • The Commission’s evaluation that there is a need for extra actions;
  • Taking into account the steps taken yet by the Commission to raise the effectiveness of collaboration; 
  • Involvement of the EU’s total interactions with the foreign nations.

History

According to international law, readmission of one’s own citizens is required. The Commission analyzes readmission cooperation with non-EU states every year under the updated Visa Code. Moreover, the commissioner gives results to the Parliament. Short-term limitations on some temporary visas may be imposed on non-EU countries whose citizens require visas to enter the EU if readmission collaboration is not yet considered.

The Commission adopted its first evaluation of how non-EU states collaborate on readmission on February 10, 2021, as the first stage in the procedure outlined in the Visa Code to improve readmission collaboration.

This comprehensive research evaluated all steps of the readmission procedure when third-country authorities’ cooperation is needed. For example, from identifying people who do not have the option to reside to obtaining travel documents and ensuring effective repatriation.

Member states were informed of the procedure, the EU’s objectives, and the possible implications of failure to improve things by the Commission and the European External Action Agency. The purpose of it is a more thorough examination and talks with the Member States.