03-12-2024 10:00
Exchange of views with the Council and European Commission on Visa Policy
In its meeting of 3 December, LIBE Members held a discussion on the EU Visa Policy with the Council Presidency and Commission’s representative. Ambassador Bálint Ódor, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU, and Beate Gminder, Acting Director-General, in the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission referred the nature of the common visa policy, its main elements and the latest legislative changes related to or with impact on EU Visa.
Ambassador Ódor highlighted the changing nature of visa policy. Initially focussed on cooperation with third countries to increase tourism and business, it has now become an important tool for immigration. He considered that the EU visa policy should be used as a strategic instrument in order to prevent abuse of the system and the negative impact for countries with and without visa-free access to the Schengen area.
Ms. Gminder recalled that President Von Der Leyen underlined the importance of a new and ambitious Visa Strategy adapted to new security risks. Abuse by visa-free countries has been noted, creating risks such as corruption and organized crime.
During the ensuing debate, LIBE members raised several key issues, including about the plans to align the EU visa policy with the new Pact on Asylum and Migration rules, the measures to address the abuse of the visa-free system, and the progress on the implementation of EES and ETIAS.