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Agreements on visa facilitation and readmission signed between Serbia and EU

Thursday, 20 September 2007

Serbian Minister of Interior Dragan Jocic signed in Brussels the agreements on visa facilitation and readmission between Serbia and the EU, which will come into force on 1 January 2008. According to the Ministry, the conclusion of the agreements on readmission and visa facilitation is an extremely important step for Serbia and its citizens as this will bring Serbia closer to entering the White Schengen List, which would imply complete elimination of visa restrictions for Serbian citizens. The conclusion of a single agreement on readmission with the EU provides conditions for gradual, organised and institutionalised return of the Serbian citizens illegally residing in the EU countries. The agreement was reached after four rounds of negotiations, several meetings and technical consultations during the period of one year. This agreement precisely defines the situations where Serbia will be obliged to accept the returnees. Serbia shall accept any Serbian citizen, providing that it is established that the illegal stay of such person in the EU represents a direct responsibility of the Republic of Serbia. The visa facilitation agreement will come into force on 1 January 2008 and it will simplify the visa issuance procedure for certain categories of Serbian citizens. The agreement will apply to certain categories of citizens such as businessmen, lawyers, doctors, architects, journalists, artists, sportsmen, students, professional drivers and civil servants, representatives of religious and non-governmental organisations. Furthermore, it also covers the situations such as travelling for medical treatment, tourism, visit to family, attending funerals etc. Facilitation will also pertain to the number of documents necessary to obtain a visa. According to the Ministry and regarding the visa duration, certain categories of citizens will be issued successive visa with a longer period of validity ~Ac??? up to five years. The cost of visa issuance will be equal for all citizens and it will be free-of-charge for a number of the abovementioned categories. Following the conclusion of these agreements, Serbia will continue with intensive activities aimed at meeting the requirements for getting on the White Schengen List. These requirements include the adoption of necessary laws, issuance of secure travel documents, strengthening of border control, controlling organised crime and harmonising the visa regime with the EU as regards the third country nationals.

 

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