The European Union has reached an agreement on new rules regulating the suspension of the visa-free regime for citizens of third countries. The suspension mechanism can be triggered due to non-compliance with visa policies, hybrid threats, deterioration of relations, or serious human rights violations. Temporary suspension can last up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension for an additional 24 months, where the additional phase does not automatically affect the entire population but may target officials and diplomats. The European Council and European Parliament agreed to increase the suspension duration compared to the previous system, and the mechanism allows the EU to permanently revoke the visa-free regime if the reasons for suspension are not resolved. This agreement aims to ensure the security and compliance of the visa-free regime with EU policies and to address challenges such as hybrid threats and abuse of visa regimes.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the importance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the EU’s decision to suspend visa-free regimes. They highlight concerns about the impact of such suspensions on vulnerable populations and stress the need for the EU to uphold its values while ensuring security. The narrative often includes caution against overly harsh measures that could harm ordinary citizens.
Center: Centrist sources focus on the balance between security and openness. They report on the technical details of the new mechanism, emphasizing the EU’s efforts to modernize and strengthen its visa policies to respond effectively to hybrid threats and irregular migration. The narrative is pragmatic, highlighting cooperation between EU institutions and the importance of dialogue with third countries to resolve issues.
Right: Right-leaning sources emphasize the necessity of strict measures to protect EU borders and prevent abuse of the visa-free regime. They focus on the security aspects, such as preventing illegal immigration and hybrid threats, and support the possibility of long-term suspension or permanent revocation of visa-free access. The narrative often stresses sovereignty, law enforcement, and the protection of EU citizens.