Communication: State of play and the possible ways forward as regards the situation of non-reciprocity with certain third countries in the area of visa policy

Visa waiver reciprocity is a principle of the EU's common visa policy and an objective which the Union should pursue in a proactive manner in its relations with third countries, thus contributing to improving the credibility and consistency of the Union's external relations. Such a principle means that the EU, when deciding on lifting the visa requirement for citizens of a third country, takes into consideration whether that third country reciprocally grants visa waiver to nationals of all Member States. In this respect, it should be noted that the United Kingdom and Ireland do not take part in the development of the common visa policy. Since 2001, different mechanisms have been established under EC/EU law with measures to be taken in non-reciprocity cases. With the active support of the Commission, the vast majority of the non-reciprocity cases notified with eight third countries, have been solved.

The latest report assessing the situation of non-reciprocity with certain third countries in the area of visa policy adopted by the Commission in November 2015 identified four countries with which non-reciprocity still persisted: Brunei in relation to Croatia; Canada in relation to Bulgaria and Romania; Japan in relation to Romania; and the United States of America (US) in relation to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania. This Communication takes stock of developments since November 2015.

In order to ensure the full involvement of the European Parliament and of the Council in the application of the reciprocity mechanism and given the particularly sensitive political nature of the suspension of the visa waiver, this Communication assesses the consequences and impacts of the suspension of the visa waiver for nationals of the third countries concerned.

ESO: Background information: Lack of visa reciprocity with the US, Canada and Brunei: European Commissions assesses state of play and discusses next steps http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-lack-of-visa-reciprocity-with-the-us-canada-and-brunei-european-commissions-assesses-state-of-play-and-discusses-next-steps/

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