The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU wants to sound out the Member States on how to strengthen the EU’s external migration policy, in particular on the issue of visas and the policy practised by certain Western Balkan countries, how to substantially strengthen returns to countries of origin, and how to combat the instrumentalisation of migration and the means available to the EU to anticipate migratory flows, according to a discussion note dated 28 September in order to prepare the meeting of the interior ministers on 14 October in Luxembourg.
On visa policy, Prague’s main concern is the non-alignment of some Western Balkan countries, in particular Serbia. “The Western Balkans is traditionally a key transit corridor for irregular migration towards the EU, especially from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. They can also be a starting point for third-country nationals who are able to enter the region without a visa requirement”.
“The non-alignment of the visa policy of the Western Balkans region with the EU’s visa policy has been most conspicuous in the case of the Republic of Serbia”, says Prague. “In contrast with the EU acquis, Serbia enables visa-free regimes for an additional 23 countries. In 2022, the Serbian authorities lifted visa requirements for nationals of Egypt on a seasonal basis (from 30 July to 30 September), following similar moves by other governments in the region. In addition, the abolishment of visa requirements for workers from other countries, such as Bangladesh, is being prepared”.
“This is having a visible impact on the migratory and asylum situation in countries bordering the Western Balkan route”, writes the Presidency, who believes that intensified diplomatic efforts are needed to address the lack of alignment of the Western Balkans visa regime in the short term.
If it turns out that this has a significant negative impact on Serbia’s migration and border management system, “there could be grounds for triggering the suspension of visa-free travel to the EU for Serbians”, Prague adds.
On returns, the Presidency also points to the use of the new provisions of the European Visa Code and in particular the sanctions against third countries that are not sufficiently cooperating on readmissions, which are not being sufficiently used.
On the issue of instrumentalisation, the note refers, among other things, to the procedure in the event of a tense situation at an external border. Lastly, on the early detection capacity of migratory movements, Prague will ask Member States how to improve the Blueprint Network missions, in particular, and the Integrated Situational Awareness and Analysis (ISAA) reports to strengthen their function as early warning and preparedness mechanisms.
Link to the note: https://aeur.eu/f/3bm (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)