Countries of Destination EMN Study Highlights by Dan Ungureanu - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Impact of Visa Liberalisation on Countries of Destination

EMN LV Conference in Riga, 17 April 2019

EMN Study Highlights

by Dan Ungureanu (ICF)

Outline – Synthesis Report

1. Aim and scope of the study 2. Legal and policy framework 3. Method 4. The impact of visa liberalisation 5. Challenges and measures 6. Examples of actions taken

• 1. Aim and scope of the study

Aim of the study

To explore the impact of visa liberalisation in specific areas and analyze trends in irregular migration that have been

• bserved in the EU and Norway.

Scope of the study

26 EMN NCPs 5 Western Balkan states 3 Eastern Partnership states 2007 - 2017

• 2. Legal and policy framework

Visa Code and Regulation A common EU visa policy for short-term Schengen visas (90 days in any 180 days period). Visa Liberalisation Dialogues Staged process started with visa facilitation agreements (coupled with readmission agreements). Suspension Mechanism Ensures that visa-free travel is not misused and can reintroduce temporary visa requirements under defined conditions.

• 3. Method

Eurostat and National Data Statistics were collected for the period 2007 – 2017 to cover the years before and after visa liberalisation. Indicators Selected based on the Commission benchmarks to monitor the fulfilment

• f the visa liberalisation

requirements. Limitations

• Focus on short-term visa liberalisation (long-stay beyond scope);
• Focus on countries of destination (EU + NO, not third countries);
• Correlation not causation between visa liberalisation and findings;
• United Kingdom and Ireland apply national visa requirements;

• 4. The impact of visa liberalisation

Direct Impacts

• An immediate increase in short

term travel to the EU;

• A reduction in the workload of

consulate staff;

• Increased border control

activities to avoid the misuse of visa liberalisation.

Indirect Impacts

• Facilitation of access to the

labour market in specific Member States;

• Higher levels of cooperation

during return and readmission procedures with visa-free countries.

• 5. Challenges and measures

Challenges

• An overall increase in the

number of (unfounded) asylum applications from visa-free countries;

• Increased numbers of visa-free

nationals overstaying their visa period;

• Increase in criminal activities.

Measures

• Designation of visa-free

countries as safe countries of

• rigin;
• New information campaigns

and cooperation with visa-free countries authorities;

• Strengthening penalties to

prevent the misuse of visa liberalisation.

• 6. Examples of actions taken

Actions

• Belgium organised targeted information campaigns to curb the influx of

asylum applications (effective with North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, less so with Albania and Georgia);

• Germany introduced specific restrictions in accommodation, social benefits

and access to the labour market and integration measures for asylum applicants from safe countries of origin (includes study states);

• France implemented action plans to tackle irregular migration from Albania

and Georgia and reinforced cooperation with Albanian and Georgian national authorities.

Find out more…

The Visa Liberalisation Study was published on 25 March 2019 and more information is available on the EMN website: Synthesis Report Inform Flash

Thank you!

EMN Website: www.emn.europa.eu EMN on Twitter: @EMNMigration General contact: emn@icf.com

Dan Ungureanu

dan.ungureanu@icf.com EMN Service Provider