European Commission proposes to open negotiations on Visa Facilitation with Morocco
Brussels - The European Commission proposed, on Thursday, to the Council to open negotiations between the EU and Morocco on an agreement to facilitate the procedures for issuing short-stay visas, says EU's press release .
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/European-Commis...
The EU-Morocco Mobility Partnership was signed in June this year and its implementation is currently on-going. It is in this context that the Commission now proposes to open negotiations for facilitating the issuing of short-stay visas to Moroccan citizens.
Some of the proposed facilitations are general for all applicants and other will benefit certain groups of people, particularly students, researchers and business professionals, said the same source.
The list of suggested visa facilitations include the simplification of documentary evidence to be submitted in support of the visa application for certain categories of applicants, the possibility of issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity, the waiving/reducing of the handling fees for specific categories of travellers, set deadlines for processing visa applications, as well as a possible exemption from the visa obligation for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
The Council must now discuss the Commission proposal. Once the mandate is adopted by the Council, the Commission will be able to start negotiations with the Moroccan authorities.
"This is a very concrete and important step in the cooperation between the EU and Morocco. Easier access to visas will reinforce the social and economic development and mutual understanding between our countries and people", said Cecilia Malmstr?m, Commissioner for Home Affairs.
She added that "recent decisions to establish a new migration and asylum policy in Morocco are yet another positive signal for our cooperation".
"I very much welcome the far-reaching recommendations contained in the recent report of the National Human Rights Council in Morocco to transform Morocco's policies and practices on migration and asylum to be fairer and in full respect of human rights", Mrs Malmstr?m said.
The European official said she welcomes "this first step" and stands "ready to support the effective implementation of this report's recommendations".
Some of the proposed facilitations are general for all applicants and other will benefit certain groups of people, particularly students, researchers and business professionals, said the same source.
The list of suggested visa facilitations include the simplification of documentary evidence to be submitted in support of the visa application for certain categories of applicants, the possibility of issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity, the waiving/reducing of the handling fees for specific categories of travellers, set deadlines for processing visa applications, as well as a possible exemption from the visa obligation for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
The Council must now discuss the Commission proposal. Once the mandate is adopted by the Council, the Commission will be able to start negotiations with the Moroccan authorities.
"This is a very concrete and important step in the cooperation between the EU and Morocco. Easier access to visas will reinforce the social and economic development and mutual understanding between our countries and people", said Cecilia Malmstr?m, Commissioner for Home Affairs.
She added that "recent decisions to establish a new migration and asylum policy in Morocco are yet another positive signal for our cooperation".
"I very much welcome the far-reaching recommendations contained in the recent report of the National Human Rights Council in Morocco to transform Morocco's policies and practices on migration and asylum to be fairer and in full respect of human rights", Mrs Malmstr?m said.
The European official said she welcomes "this first step" and stands "ready to support the effective implementation of this report's recommendations".
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/European-Commis...