EU Suspends Visa Provisions for Ethiopians Over Readmission Cooperation

The Council of the European Union has temporarily suspended certain visa provisions for Ethiopian nationals due to Ethiopia's insufficient cooperation in readmitting its citizens who are illegally staying in the EU. The decision, effective as of April 30, 2024, follows an assessment by the European Commission that concluded Ethiopia's cooperation in the readmission of its nationals is inadequate.

Under the new restrictions, Schengen member states are no longer authorized to waive requirements related to the evidence documents that Ethiopian visa applicants need to submit, and they are prohibited from issuing multiple-entry visas to Ethiopians. Instead, Ethiopian nationals applying for Schengen visas will now be issued only single-entry visas, which become invalid as soon as the holders exit the Schengen Area. The visa fee waiver for diplomatic and service passport holders has also been removed, and the standard visa processing time has been extended from 15 to 45 calendar days.

Why this matters: The EU's decision to suspend visa provisions for Ethiopians is part of its broader efforts to tackle irregular migration and stem the gains of far-right political parties ahead of the upcoming European parliamentary elections in June. The move also highlights the EU's increasing pressure on countries to cooperate in the readmission of their nationals who are staying illegally in the EU.

The Council cited Ethiopia's lack of responsiveness to readmission requests and challenges in issuing emergency travel documents and organizing voluntary and non-voluntary return operations as the reasons for this decision. "The restrictions are a result of Ethiopia's lack of cooperation in taking back its citizens who are illegally residing in the EU," stated the Council.

The EU has been grappling with a significant influx of illegal immigration, with around 380,000 people entering the EU illegally last year, the highest number since 2016. The suspension of visa provisions for Ethiopians is part of the EU's efforts to curb the flow of illegal migrants from Africa and address the lack of cooperation from countries in repatriating their citizens.

The European Commission will continue to monitor Ethiopia's progress in improving readmission cooperation. The Council did not provide a specific end date for the temporary suspension of visa provisions, indicating that the restrictions will remain in place until Ethiopia demonstrates sufficient cooperation in the readmission process.

Key Takeaways

• EU suspends certain visa provisions for Ethiopians due to insufficient readmission cooperation.
• Ethiopians now issued only single-entry Schengen visas, with no multiple-entry or fee waivers.
• EU aims to curb illegal migration and address lack of cooperation in repatriating citizens.
• Restrictions will remain until Ethiopia demonstrates sufficient progress in readmission process.
• Decision part of EU's broader efforts to tackle irregular migration ahead of parliamentary elections.