EP rapporteur: Visa liberalization is at risk

Visa-free regime is at risk, the situation has never been more serious, EP Rapporteur on Visa Liberalization for the Western Balkans Tanja Fajon has said. She told daily Vecernje novosti that it was becoming clearer that Serbia and Macedonia would have to face certain measures. EP rapporteur: Visa liberalization is at risk “New wave of false asylum seekers from Serbia and Macedonia, especially in Belgium and Sweden is a reason for a great concern among the EU member states,” she was quoted as saying. “We have witnessed new abuses of the visa-free regime and arrival of buses carrying citizens of those two countries who are seeking asylum in the last several weeks. It’s getting clearer that Serbia and Macedonia will have to face certain measures. I’m not ruling out a possibility of reintroducing visas for the citizens of one or both countries. Some member states suggest introducing a mechanism that would allow quick suspension of the visa-free regime. The situation is very serious and competent politicians should react immediately,” she told the daily. Fajon pointed out that certain EU member states could request that Serbia be returned to so-called “black Schengen list”. “That would mean reintroduction of visas with the same procedure as during the visa liberalization process in 2009. A possibility to temporarily suspend the visa liberalization is a new proposal and it is a consequence of the recent serious abuse of the visa-free regime. The European Commission has made a proposal to introduce a mechanism for possible suspension of the visa-free regime,” she stressed. When asked why Serbian citizens would be once again punished with isolation, Fajon said that it was important to understand that visa liberalization did not give the citizens right to seek asylum, residence permit or to apply for work. “Visa-free travel has certain restrictions. If you don’t respect the rules you will face consequences. I am sure that nobody wants visas introduced again and that is why there is a very serious warning now. The authorities need to seriously tackle the problem, otherwise these freedoms will be canceled before we will get a chance to help. The government should take all necessary measures to stop the abuse. Unfortunately, not much was done in the last several months,” she told the daily. Fajon added that the measures would mainly affect ordinary people and not politicians, businesspeople and rich citizens. Tanja Fajon (Facebook)

EP rapporteur: Visa liberalization is at risk

“New wave of false asylum seekers from Serbia and Macedonia, especially in Belgium and Sweden is a reason for a great concern among the EU member states,” she was quoted as saying.

“We have witnessed new abuses of the visa-free regime and arrival of buses carrying citizens of those two countries who are seeking asylum in the last several weeks. It’s getting clearer that Serbia and Macedonia will have to face certain measures. I’m not ruling out a possibility of reintroducing visas for the citizens of one or both countries. Some member states suggest introducing a mechanism that would allow quick suspension of the visa-free regime. The situation is very serious and competent politicians should react immediately,” she told the daily.

Fajon pointed out that certain EU member states could request that Serbia be returned to so-called “black Schengen list”.

“That would mean reintroduction of visas with the same procedure as during the visa liberalization process in 2009. A possibility to temporarily suspend the visa liberalization is a new proposal and it is a consequence of the recent serious abuse of the visa-free regime. The European Commission has made a proposal to introduce a mechanism for possible suspension of the visa-free regime,” she stressed.

When asked why Serbian citizens would be once again punished with isolation, Fajon said that it was important to understand that visa liberalization did not give the citizens right to seek asylum, residence permit or to apply for work.

“Visa-free travel has certain restrictions. If you don’t respect the rules you will face consequences. I am sure that nobody wants visas introduced again and that is why there is a very serious warning now. The authorities need to seriously tackle the problem, otherwise these freedoms will be canceled before we will get a chance to help. The government should take all necessary measures to stop the abuse. Unfortunately, not much was done in the last several months,” she told the daily.

Fajon added that the measures would mainly affect ordinary people and not politicians, businesspeople and rich citizens.