Citing the lack of Ethiopian cooperation to facilitate repatriation of citizens deported from EU member states, the EU Council announced on April 29 a major tightening of most visa procedures for Ethiopian citizens.
In a nutshell, Brussels decreed that the time needed to process visas for Ethiopians will triple from 15 to 45 days. In another critical punitive measure, EU countries will no longer be permitted to waive requirements for certain paperwork submissions or issue multiple-entry visas. Also, Ethiopian diplomats and officials will now have to pay for their travel visas.
It is hoped that pressure on visa issuance will improve Ethiopian cooperation on the readmission of its citizens deported from the EU. The majority of the problem regarding Ethiopia is connected to visa “overstays,” meaning Ethiopian citizens simply fail to leave when their EU visas expire. Ethiopia has also been uncooperative about issuing travel documents for EU deportees.
It should not be forgotten that Ethiopia is no island of peace and stability. It is seen as a transit hub for refugees and immigrants from the troubled Horn of Africa area, including Somalia and Eritrea. The two-year conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, which ended in late 2022, has left much of that region in peace but at the edge of starvation.
Earlier in April, EU legislators approved a revamped migration system. It is hoped this would reduce the number of migrants arriving without official documents, as EU moderates seek to stem gains by the far right ahead of the EU’s parliamentary election in June.
The EU Council decision was taken in accordance with Schengen Zone rules and procedures. Some EU countries are not Schengen members at this time while other non-EU countries (Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Norway) have signed up and will apply the rules.
Two EU member states, Ireland and Denmark, do not intend to apply the new Schengen rules now, although Denmark may decide to participate after a six-month review.
Text of EU Council release follows:
Ethiopia: Council restricts visa provision
“Today (April 29), the Council decided to temporarily suspend certain elements of the EU law that regulates the issuing of visas to Ethiopian nationals. In particular, it will no longer be possible for member states:
–to waive requirements with regard to the evidence to be submitted by Ethiopian visa applicants
–to issue multiple entry visas
–to waive the visa fee for holders of diplomatic and service passports
–Furthermore, the standard visa-processing period now becomes 45 calendar days instead of 15.
This decision follows an assessment by the Commission, which concludes that cooperation by Ethiopia in the field of readmission of its nationals illegally staying in the EU is insufficient. There is a lack of response from the Ethiopian authorities with regard to readmission requests and difficulties persist with the issuance of emergency travel documents and with the organization of both voluntary and non-voluntary return operations.
The suspension decision is temporary but does not come with a specific end date. The Commission will continue to assess any progress made on readmission cooperation.”