EU, Serbia initial visa agreements

EU, Serbia initial visa agreements

Both accords should be officially signed in autumn in order to come into force on January 1, 2008, providing for easier access to visas for certain categories of Serbian citizens, the government reported on its website.

The Agreement on Visa Relaxations will enable facilitation of the visa issuing procedure for businesspeople, students, experts, doctors, lawyers, architects, sportspeople, artist and culture workers, civil society activists and NGO employees, journalists, members of religious communities and other categories of Serbian citizens.

Visa relaxations will also refer to some tourist travels, provided that tour operators guarantee for tourists, which means that tourist agencies in Serbia would have to be well positioned in EU member countries.

For certain categories of frequent travelers the issuing of multi-entry visas with long periods of validity is provided. Holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from the visa obligation.

All categories of Serbian citizens with the right to visa relaxations will be given visas free-of-charge at consular offices of EU countries, whereas until now a fee of EUR 35 per visa was mandatory.

According to the Readmission Agreement, between 100,000 and 150,000 citizens illegally staying in the EU are to be returned to Serbia.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that the agreement was 'a strong and clear proof of the EU's commitment to Serbia.'

The deal on visa facilitation and readmission was the EU's 'first commitment' to the Serbian new government, Rehn said in a statement.

EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said that the deal would also enable both sides to improve cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration.