6 June 2013, Brussels
The members of the visa facilitation sub-group discussed their current projects on visa policy as well as future activities within. On the basis of the discussion – which included the results of monitoring initiatives in two areas: visa issuance by the EU consulates and fulfilment of criteria necessary for a visa-free regime with the EU by EaP states carried out by participant organisations – the sub-group agreed to take the following steps:
- To prepare an open letter to the European Commission, EU MS Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Consulates with regard to the non-compliance of the majority of EU MS to the EU Visa Code as well as Visa Facilitation Agreements provisions. In order to illustrate this situation we will carry out a survey among the EaP CSF participants on their visa application experience. The letter can be sent on behalf of the CSF WG 1 or the whole Forum.
- To prepare an EU Visa Code information sheet, which should be distributed at the EU MS consulates.
- To cooperate more closely over the monitoring of the fulfilment of technical criteria that EaP states need to fulfil in order to qualify for a visa-free regime with the EU and the visualisation internet tool (working version is already ready). When the internet tool is ready, it can be also published on the website of the EaP CSF.
- To look for greater synergy between the visa facilitation sub-group and the Visa-free Europe Coalition www.visa-free-europe.eu. Members of the visa sub-group have been invited to join the Coalition.
- To prepare recommendations regarding the EU visa policy on behalf of WG1. The recommendations have been already prepared and sent to the Coordinators of WG1.
