12/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – The Parliament confirmed on Tuesday 11 December the mandate of the Committee on Civil Liberties adopted on 3 December (see EUROPE 12152) to negotiate new rules for granting short-stay visas in the EU. The text was passed by 401 votes to 222 with 40 abstentions. In particular, it will increase visa fees from €60 to €80 (exempting children under 12 and students) and will make it possible to submit visa applications as early as 9 months before the planned trip. Travellers will also be able to apply for a visa at the consulate of another EU Member State if the responsible consulate is neither present nor represented in a given third country, or if the competent consulate is more than 500 km from their place of residence. Inter-institutional negotiations with the Council should start before Christmas, the Parliament says. (SP)