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COMMISSION PROPOSES VISA TALKS WITH BAKU AND YEREVAN
By Joanna Sopinska
Europolitics.info
Sept 20 2011
The European Commission announced, on 20 September, a proposal to
open negotiations with Armenia and Azerbaijan on the facilitation of
procedures for issuing short-stay visas and on the readmission of
irregular migrants. Alongside Belarus, these two countries are the
only members of the Eastern Partnership initiative that have not
yet concluded such agreements. "Visa facilitation and readmission
agreements are very tangible results of the Eastern Partnership and
I know how much this means to the citizens of these countries", Home
Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said in a statement. The exact
date for the launch of negotiations has not been set yet. A decision
to this end is expected to be taken "soon," paving the way for the
talks to start in the coming months.
The Commission said that the agreements with both countries will
be based on reciprocity. The list of suggested visa facilitations
will include the simplification of documentary evidence to be
submitted in support of the visa application, the possibility
of issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity,
the waiving/reducing of the handling fees for specific categories
of travellers, set deadlines for processing visa applications, as
well as a possible exemption from the visa obligation for holders
of diplomatic passports. The negotiations of readmission agreements
will provide for the speedy return of nationals staying without
authorisation on the territory of the EU or any of the two countries.
Improving people-to-people contacts between the EU and the six Eastern
countries is one of the main priorities of the Eastern Partnership
initiative, launched in May 2009. Once in force, the agreements are
expected be followed by visa liberalisation talks. Ukraine and Moldova
- two other Eastern Partnership members - have already launched such
negotiations with the EU.
http://www.europolitics.info/sectorial-policies/commission-proposes-visa-talks-with-baku-and-yerevan-art313375-16.html
By Joanna Sopinska
Europolitics.info
Sept 20 2011
The European Commission announced, on 20 September, a proposal to
open negotiations with Armenia and Azerbaijan on the facilitation of
procedures for issuing short-stay visas and on the readmission of
irregular migrants. Alongside Belarus, these two countries are the
only members of the Eastern Partnership initiative that have not
yet concluded such agreements. "Visa facilitation and readmission
agreements are very tangible results of the Eastern Partnership and
I know how much this means to the citizens of these countries", Home
Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said in a statement. The exact
date for the launch of negotiations has not been set yet. A decision
to this end is expected to be taken "soon," paving the way for the
talks to start in the coming months.
The Commission said that the agreements with both countries will
be based on reciprocity. The list of suggested visa facilitations
will include the simplification of documentary evidence to be
submitted in support of the visa application, the possibility
of issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity,
the waiving/reducing of the handling fees for specific categories
of travellers, set deadlines for processing visa applications, as
well as a possible exemption from the visa obligation for holders
of diplomatic passports. The negotiations of readmission agreements
will provide for the speedy return of nationals staying without
authorisation on the territory of the EU or any of the two countries.
Improving people-to-people contacts between the EU and the six Eastern
countries is one of the main priorities of the Eastern Partnership
initiative, launched in May 2009. Once in force, the agreements are
expected be followed by visa liberalisation talks. Ukraine and Moldova
- two other Eastern Partnership members - have already launched such
negotiations with the EU.
http://www.europolitics.info/sectorial-policies/commission-proposes-visa-talks-with-baku-and-yerevan-art313375-16.html