The reform will make the visa application process faster, cheaper and more secure.
The European Union has taken a new step towards the digitalization of visa procedures in the Schengen area. As reported by Euractiv, the European Parliament has formally approved the agreements of the main EU institutions on this issue.
This is the penultimate step before the entry into force of the relevant legal act. The next step should be the approval of the entire procedure by the ministers of the EU member states at the EU Council meeting, which should take place on November 12.
Visa system reform
It is believed that the new EU regulations will lead to the digitalization of applications for obtaining visas for residence in the Schengen area from citizens of third countries, as well as from citizens of EU member states outside the Schengen area.
EU lawmakers believe this move will make the visa application process faster, cheaper and more secure, as applications will be cryptographically signed and more difficult to forge.
– Europe is currently lagging behind its friends in digital visa procedures. Thanks to this reform, we will make up for lost time and make the whole process cheaper and easier for visa applicants, said speaker and Member of the European Parliament Matiaz Nemets of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.
Non-Schengen countries will benefit from this
The intention is that the submission of digital visas will take place via one online platform. The EU institutions reached an agreement on this regulation in June.
EU member states such as Bulgaria and Romania that are not members of the Schengen area will also benefit from the new legislation, as Romanian and Bulgarian visas will also be digitalized and these countries will not have to apply for Schengen visas.
Sources in the European Parliament say this legislative act should become mandatory around 2031 or 2032. From 2025 it will operate on a voluntary basis.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
