The European Union has made an announcement regarding visa requirements for individuals from Ethiopia. The EU has accused the Ethiopian government of failing to cooperate in repatriating citizens who are residing illegally in the 27-nation bloc. As a result, the processing time for visas for Ethiopian nationals will now be extended from 15 to 45 days. Additionally, EU countries will no longer have the authority to waive certain paperwork requirements or issue multiple-entry visas. Furthermore, Ethiopian diplomats and officials will now be responsible for paying for their travel visas.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, has expressed its commitment to utilizing visa regulations as a means of exerting pressure on countries to cooperate in deportation procedures. It is worth noting that only a fraction of the individuals who are ordered to leave the EU actually comply with the deportation orders.
The Commission has justified this action by citing the Ethiopian authorities’ lack of response to readmission requests, as well as deficiencies in the organization of both voluntary and non-voluntary return operations, which refer to deportation procedures.
It is important to recognize that the majority of individuals who stay illegally in the EU do not violate any rules upon their arrival through airports or ports. Instead, they overstay their visas, outnumbering those who arrive by unsafe boats or travel overland in search of refuge, employment, or better lives in Europe.
Ethiopia is currently grappling with conflict and a humanitarian crisis. The two-year conflict in the northern Tigray region, which concluded with a peace agreement in November 2022, has resulted in the majority of the region’s 6 million inhabitants relying on international assistance.
The country serves as both a significant origin and transit point for migrants and refugees in the Horn of Africa region. It often acts as a hub for individuals from Eritrea and Somalia who aspire to reach Europe or other parts of the northern African
Source AP