The EU has announced new tougher Schengen Visa rules for the citizens of Ethiopia. According to the new restrictions announced the visa processing timings have been increased along with a bn on issuing multiple entry visas. The decision has been announced upon lack of cooperation from the Ethiopian government for the readmission of illegal migrants.
The decision was announced on 29 April 2024 which not only affects the status of the standard visa application but also a ban on visa fee waiver for the diplomats and officials. How long this new regulation will last, nothing has been announced about it yet.
EU has already imposed such sanctions on Gambia in July 2021. In fact the EU parliament also proposed these bans on Bangladesh and Iraq.
The EU bloc has been able to deport 83,000 people forcibly or voluntarily. This is however a small portion of 19% of those who were ordered to leave the EU countries reports Infomigrant.
What are the changed Schengen visa rules for the Ethiopians?
Overall the following changes will affect the Schengen visa application process for Ethiopians as reported by europa.eu:
- The Schengen visa processing times have been increased from 15 to 45 days,
- Ethiopian officials and diplomats will not be able to enjoy the visa fee waiver option,
- to waive requirements about the evidence to be submitted by Ethiopian visa applicants,
- A ban will be imposed by the member countries on issuing multiple entry visas.
Why tougher rules have been imposed?
EU wants to put pressure on the Ethiopian government to fasten the repatriation process. As per reports, the North African country has failed to sufficiently cooperate about this matter either for the people who voluntarily want to go back to their home country or those removed forcibly.
The main motives of the policy for the Schengen Visa
The main purposes of this announcement are:
- Improving the readmission of illegal migrants collaboration with the EU;
- Encouraging cooperation;
- The EU to 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.
New Asylum Rules
The European Parliament has approved a long-awaited migration and asylum pact in April 2024. It took the parliament 8 years to negotiate with the 27 member states of Europe.
The pact aims to better manage migration to Europe. Anyone who has little chance of being granted the right to remain should be deported more quickly and directly from the EU’s external border. Behind this are mandatory border procedures, which should usually be completed after twelve weeks. A possible deportation should then be completed – also in up to twelve weeks. Unaccompanied minors are excluded from these procedures.
History of these regulations
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.