Revision of the EU visa suspension mechanism

Background

Despite the significant benefits that visa-free travel can bring for EU, it can result in increased irregular migration through overstays by visa-free travellers or through asylum applications. It has become clear that a safeguard mechanism against the abuse of the visa exemption is needed and this mechanism should be further strengthened and improved. The EU should be fully prepared to react promptly to a wide range of potential future security risks, including hybrid threats.

However, the Committee considers that efforts should be made to clarify the criteria for triggering the mechanism and at the same time to ensure that they are flexible enough to allow for their efficient and swift application where necessary.

Key points

In the opinion the EESC:

• recommends that the Commissions assess the necessity, proportionality and consequences of suspending an exemption from the visa requirement;
• special attention should be paid to the mobility needs of human rights defenders, especially if the human rights situation deteriorates in the third country concerned;
• recommends that, if the suspension mechanism is activated, the EU should offer protection with careful assessments to certain categories of people, such as civil and human rights activists, vulnerable people exposed to exclusion or prosecution in third countries and to students /members of academia who wish to travel for professional reasons.

Additional information

EESC section: External Relations (REX)

Opinion number: REX/582-EESC-2024

Opinion type: Own-initiative

Rapporteur: Ionuţ SIBIAN (Civil Society Organisations -GR III/ Romania)

Date of adoption by section: 25/09/2024

Date of adoption in plenary: 23-24 October 2024

Result of the vote in plenary: 250 in favour/0 against/ 3 abstentions.

On 20 November 2024, Mr Sibian will meet Mr Matjaž NEMEC, Member of the European Parliament, who is Rapporteur on this legislative proposal.

Contact

Millie Tsoumani

Press Officer, Tel.: +32 (0) 2 546 9088, Email: Amalia.tsoumani@eesc.europa.eu 

Sabrina Tesoka

Administrator, Policy Officer, Tel.: +32 (0) 2 546 9552, Email: Sabrina.Tesoka@eesc.europa.eu