The EU mechanism that allows the temporary restoration of the visa regime of the Western Balkans is in force as of today.
European Parliament Member Tanja Fajon said for Srna that the mechanism was established to prevent a sudden and extraordinary rise in the number of people who are looking for asylum, and who have no legal basis for it.
She said that measures for the freedom of movement should be respected and all criteria for a visa-free regime should be met.
‘’I hope that the EU will never activate a mechanism for any country in the Western Balkans. This would be a huge step backwards in the process of EU accession and the relations between people’’, said Fajon, stating that the number of asylum seekers who come from Western Balkan countries remains high.
The protective mechanism can be applied in the case of non-observance of the readmission agreement, if a country refuses the EU request to receive back their nationals who abuse the visa-free regime.
The EU Commission is authorized to, on the proposal of one of more countries, assess whether vises for entry to the ‘Schengen Zone’ of the EU will be introduced to citizens of a country.
The decision on the establishment of a mechanism was published on 20 December in the ‘’Official Journal of the EU’’ and after 20 days, which is today, it entered into force.
(Source: klix.ba)
