Brussels, 20/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission recommended on Monday 19 April that Schengen area countries apply special derogations for travellers affected by the airspace closure brought in on 15 April. Firstly, persons holding a short stay visa that expired on or after 15 April 2010 will be allowed to remain in the Schengen area until air traffic returns to normal, without having to apply for an extension of their visas. Derogations are also planned for persons who did not intend to enter the Schengen area, but have been forced to do so. This refers, for example, to those who cannot return to their country of residence by air and who wish to travel by land or sea, and for those who intended to transit via the international terminal of a Schengen area airport but who are forced to leave the airport to find accommodation until air traffic resumes.
The Commission recommends that the countries of the Schengen area issue these people with visas and requests that they waive visa fees and do not insist on the applicant being in possession of travel medical insurance. (B.C./transl.rt)