Brussels, 29/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - Georgian citizens will soon be able to obtain EU entry visas more easily and Taiwanese nationals will no longer need a visa at all to enter the EU, under proposals supported on Tuesday 26 October by the EP civil liberties committee. MEPs also gave their backing to an agreement with Georgia on the readmission of illegal immigrants. These measures will be put to the vote at Parliament's plenary session in Brussels at the start of November.
The visa facilitation agreement with Georgia will simplify the documents required for Georgian nationals who wish to obtain an EU visa. A decision on whether or not to issue a visa will have to be taken within 10 days of application and the fee charged will be €35. Some people, such as students, journalists and people taking part in cultural, artistic, scientific and sports events, will not require a visa. The committee approved the agreement on the basis of a report by Nathalie Griesbeck (ALDE, France) which was adopted overwhelmingly, with only one vote against. A second report by the same MEP, approved by 42 votes to 6, backs a separate agreement on the readmission of illegal immigrants. On the basis of complete reciprocity, Georgia and the EU will have to take back any of their nationals who are in breach of immigration laws, and also nationals of third countries and stateless persons where it is proved that they hold a visa for the signatory state or have resided or transited through that state. Both agreements will come into force one month after ratification by both parties.
A third report, by Agustín Diaz de Mera (EPP, Spain), adopted nearly unanimously on Tuesday, with only one vote against, supports a move to put Taiwan on the list of countries exempt from EU visa controls. Taiwan currently does not require visas for nationals of most EU member states, the exceptions being Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria. However, the Taiwanese authorities have undertaken to exempt these countries completely by the end of 2010. If Parliament adopts the proposal, it will then be up to EU home affairs ministers to reach their decision, probably at the start of December. (B.C./transl.rt)