On Wednesday 16 July, the European Commission proposed temporary visa measures for Guinea following a new negative assessment report.
“Guinea’s cooperation on readmission of its nationals found to be illegally staying on the territory of the Member States is insufficient, as substantiated by a return rate of 3% in 2024 which is a decrease from 5% in 2023”.
“During the reporting period, Member States faced persistent and increasing challenges in effectively implementing the readmission arrangement with Guinea, in particular as regards undocumented cases”.
This justifies, says the Commission, the temporary suspension “of the possibility of waiving the requirements with regard to the documentary evidence to be submitted by visa applicants [...], suspension of the general 15-calendar days processing period [...] (which, as a consequence, also excludes the application of the rule allowing the extension of this period up to a maximum of 45 days only in individual cases, hence 45 days becomes the standard processing period), suspension of the issuing of multiple-entry visas [...], and suspension of the optional visa fee waiver for holders of diplomatic and service passports”.
The Commission has already proposed such measures for Bangladesh, Iraq, Gambia, Senegal, Ethiopia and Somalia (see EUROPE 13390/16). It recognises substantial improvements in Bangladesh and Iraq and is considering withdrawing the measures in place.
Link to the decision: https://aeur.eu/f/hwn (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)