Brussels, 23/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 23 April, the European Commission said that progress had been made towards lifting the visa requirement imposed by Canada nine months ago on Czech nationals. “Progress has been made, even if we haven't yet reached a solution,” said European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström. “We are not being passive. Quite the opposite. However, the Commission cannot force Canada to lift visa requirements,” she added, following a meeting with European home affairs ministers. Canada abolished visas for Czech visitors in 2007, before imposing them again in July 2009 when faced with an explosion in the number of asylum seekers, most of whom belonged to the Roma minority, and claimed to be victims of discrimination (see EUROPE 10086). The Commission asked Canada to take two types of steps to alleviate these restrictions. Firstly, it asked Canada to open a visa office on Prague. This was done on 21 December 2009. Then it sought a roadmap for the abolition of visas. A meeting of Commission, Czech Republic and Canadian experts was held on 15 March. A document, “Path of Measures” to bring about the removal of the visa requirement for Czech citizens, was accepted by the two main protagonists. The text is divided into two parts. The first contains measures to prevent a similar situation where Canada re-introduces visas. One of the measures deals with the implementation of new Canadian asylum legislation and the other with improvements in integration policy for Roma. The second part of the document contains measures that would allow Canada to get rid of visas as such. Firstly the two countries would have to examine why Czech citizens leave their country to seek asylum in Canada. Then, they would have to examine the legality of the involvement of the companies which organise the departure of these citizens and, if appropriate, improve judicial cooperation to put an end to illegal practices. Improvements are also proposed to facilitate settlement of this dispute between the two countries. These refer to the speed of Canadian asylum procedures, removal of compensation to Czech emigrants, information campaigns to raise awareness among Czechs, and exchanges of information (asylum requests and abandonments of procedures, stolen or lost passports) and experts. “The level of solidarity for the Czech Republic expressed by member states is very high,” Malmström said. “The process is continuing, even though things are moving very slowly,” she acknowledged, stating that a definitive solution would still take time. The issue will be on the agenda of the next Justice and Home Affairs Council at the start of June. It will also be discussed at the EU-Canada Summit in Brussels on 5 May, which will be attended by the President of the European Council and the Canadian Prime Minister. (B.C./transl.rt)