Example Community Services Letter

Expert: Schengen visa for Belarusians will be lifted again

C February 4, 2011, Germany abolished the visa fee Belarus for issuing national visas. Stefanie Schiffer, an expert on Belarus and the head of the German NGO "European Exchange" which deals with human rights issues, explained the reasons for the decision.

"This decision should be viewed in a broader context, that is, as previously planned measure in the visa policy of the EU, and in particular Germany, which tend to converge and facilitate entry into the European country for the Belarusians ", - says Stephanie Slate .

In her opinion, it is the intention of "does not depend on the results of presidential elections, and repression occurring in Belarus after them ". However, the expert said, what is happening in the country "helped accelerate the decision" . "With the help of Berlin wants to encourage the Belarusian citizens and show that Europe is not indifferent to their fate ", - emphasized the head of the European exchange."

"Decision Germany to speed up the process of canceling the visa fee, adopted at the national level is also associated with the complexity and duration of procedure for the adoption of similar solutions at EU level ", - complains Stephanie Slate. However, she said, this issue is constantly debated in the European Union: "The foreign ministers of member countries The EU is actively advocate the simplification of visa regime for the Belarusians. The main obstacles are creating policies within countries, the EU ".

It reported that as discussed "issue to facilitate bureaucratic procedures" in obtaining visas, "but without concrete consequences" : "For example, our organization at every opportunity is not only for facilitating the visa regime, but in general, for the abolition of visas. We believe that this was would be the only correct solution ".

"I am optimistic about the future and believes that the Schengen visa for Belarusians will be canceled. It's just a matter of time. And I hope he will soon be resolved ", - the expert believes.

Stephanie Slate explained why the visa issue could not be solved in a coordinated, at EU level. According to her, "the issue of cost of Schengen visas is considered in the framework of bilateral agreements between the EU and in the case of Belarus" . "Now the ball on the Belarusian side. Minsk to sign the readmission agreement. Only after that the EU will be possible consideration to reduce the cost of Schengen visas ", - emphasized the head of the European exchange."