Belarus and the EU will hold discussions on the simplification of the visa regime and readmission. "Schengen" may be cheaper

It is the story of the debasement of the "Schengen" that we have been waiting for a very long time. Negotiations on visa simplification and readmission officially started in January 2014. The last meeting took place in June 2017 in Minsk. If the agreements are concluded, this will simplify and reduce the cost of issuing short-term visas to citizens of the Republic of Belarus and will also enable the country to readmit its citizens who do not have the right to be readmitted. in the territory of the European Union. [19659002] The fifth round of discussions on visa facilitation and readmission will take place in September on the website of the EU Representation in Belarus.

In view of the fact that the previous meeting was held in Minsk, the European Commission invited the participants this time to meet in Brussels. The Commission has declared itself ready to continue negotiations to complete them as soon as possible.

Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, said that the European Union was determined to strengthen its interaction with the Belarusian people:

] – Simplification of the regime visas will actively promote the development of contacts between people, which will not only create personal links, but also strengthen the interaction between companies for the benefit of our economies. I would like to thank the Belarusian authorities for participating in the negotiations on these two agreements. This cooperation is conducted in the interest of both parties and especially in the interest of our citizens.

The negotiation process between the BR and the EU was delayed

Recall that on June 19th the Committee of Permanent Representatives of European governments approved the mandate of the Council of the European Union negotiations with the European Parliament on the revision of the Visa Code. Negotiations will take place throughout the fall. Their result should be a decision including the increase of the cost of a Schengen visa from 60 to 80 euros.

However, international agreements (for example, an agreement on visa facilitation) prevail over national legislation (EU) in this part. in which they settle the same questions. Thus, the reduced visa fee rate, established by Visa Facilitation Agreements (€ 35), will continue to apply to citizens of countries that have concluded such agreements with the EU (country of origin). Eastern Partnership, Russian Federation). The negotiation process between the Republic of Belarus and the EU has been delayed, said the Belarusian Foreign Ministry early in the summer:

– Our partners have expressed a number of claims There is no similar European agreement, for example with Armenia or Azerbaijan. In particular, the need to file documents exclusively through visa centers, which will obviously lead to an increase in the cost of visa procedures.

These conditions largely politicize the problems of mutual travel and put our citizens in unequal conditions. We intend to continue to work with EU partners to develop provisions that do not discriminate against our country and to conclude a treaty on comfortable terms for Belarusian citizens.