The European Commission is proposing changes to visa rules in order to address concerns about the misuse of visa-free travel. The aim of the proposal is to tackle issues such as irregular migration and potential security threats linked to visa-free countries.
Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission, stressed the importance of monitoring visa-free travel in order to maintain strong ties between the EU and its partner countries. Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs, highlighted the benefits of visa-free travel for promoting mobility and people-to-people connections.
The proposal is in line with President Ursula von der Leyen’s commitment to strengthen the visa suspension mechanism and monitor visa-free states more effectively. The latest report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism has raised concerns about certain countries being used as transit points for irregular migrants seeking to enter the EU.
The Commission will continue to monitor all visa-free third countries closely, building on a communication released earlier this year. The proposal is now subject to negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council.
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