The EU Council’s Working Party on Integration, Migration and Expulsion will meet on Thursday 16 April to examine new proposals from the Cyprus Presidency on the strategic use of visas in European migration policy, according to a note dated 13 April that Agence Europe has been able to consult.
The Council Presidency considers it necessary to continue to reflect on the effectiveness of this mechanism, which is considered to be the “primary” instrument for obtaining the cooperation of third countries on the readmission of migrants.
Based on the European Commission’s new strategy on visas (see EUROPE 13797/10), the Cypriots envisage the introduction of a “minimal initial duration” for sanctions imposed on third countries, in order to increase their credibility. They also mention firmer legislative reforms, such as the possibility of suspending the issuance of visas for certain categories of passport, or even for all categories “in particularly serious situations”. The aim is to be able to react quickly in the event of a “severe and sudden deterioration” in a partner’s stance towards the EU.
These proposals come a few months after the conclusion of the provisional agreement on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, under which the EU can only withdraw trade preferences from a third country if restrictive visa measures against it have already been proposed (see EUROPE 13764/14).
However, the note calls for a degree of “flexibility” to be maintained, pointing out that the threat of sanctions against Iraq and Bangladesh was lifted in November 2025 as a result of their cooperation improving “substantially, in a sustainable manner over time”. (Original version in French by Justine Manaud)