Brussels, 12/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - It is certainly a measure only to be used as a last resort, but is now one possible under European legislation. On Thursday 12 September, MEPs in Strasbourg backed a safeguard clause allowing the suspension of visa-free regimes granted to third countries whose nationals abuse the asylum system of EU member states once they arrive.
Although the MEPs, like the European Commission which had made the proposal in May 2011, refuse to single out third countries, the Balkan countries, Serbia, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are directly concerned. It is to respond to the sudden arrival of some of these countries' nationals that Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, and even enthusiastically France and the Netherlands, supported this suspension clause.
Under the new rules, the visa exemption regimes will thus be able to be suspended temporarily, “but only as a last resort (…) in emergencies”, involving “a substantial and sudden increase [more than 50%] over a six month period”, in the number of illegal immigrants, unfounded requests for asylum or rejected requests for readmission, the text on which the MEPs voted states.
“The suspension mechanism does not target specific third countries. It would provide a general framework for the future, and could be triggered for any country whose nationals are eligible to travel visa-free to the EU. The amendments to the visa regulation aim to preserve the integrity of the visa liberalisation process and ensure that visa-free travel to the EU does not lead to abuses”, said the rapporteur, Agustin Diaz de Mera (EPP, Spain).
The S&D Group accused the Right of ravaging the policy on free movement, and it accused the EPP Group and Liberals of damaging a fundamental freedom. According to the text adopted, the member states that face an emergency situation would be required to inform the Commission. The Commission would then assess whether it is necessary to suspend the visa exemption rules for nationals of a designated third country. If this was the case, the Parliament explains, the Commission's assessment would then have to take factors into account, such as the number of member states affected, the overall impact of these increases on the migratory situation in the EU, and the consequences of a suspension for the EU's external relations. If the Commission ultimately decided that measures are necessary, it would suspend the visa exemption for a period of six months. This action will be taken by means of an implementing act. The Parliament would have to be informed.
The adoption of the report (328 votes in favour, 257 against and 46 abstentions) was welcomed by the EPP and especially its French delegation, which sees this as a good means of fighting abuse. European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström stated that this amendment to Regulation 2001/539 (on the list of countries exempt from visas) did not target any particular country but was to preserve trust in the integrity of the system. Malmström said, however, that she hoped that this suspension clause would never have to be activated. (SP/transl.fl)