European Union interior ministers have agreed on clearing the way for restoring temporary visa requirements for travellers from Western Balkan countries in the event of a sudden influx of migrants from that area. The entry into force of this measure requires the approval of the European Parliament.
In 2009, the European Union lifted visa requirements for citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia and a year later for citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Since then, the number of immigrants from that region in Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Sweden has sharply increased.
As a result, the EU council for internal affairs on Thursday decided to incorporate a protective clause into the visa abolishment decision.
The introduction of the protective clause was prompted by an increase of asylum seekers arriving from the Western Balkans in the EU. Criminal groups organise the arrival of those asylum seekers and give them false promises that applying for asylum will help them get financial aid.
