When Even Machiavelli’s Prince Needs a Visa Migration, Euro-Mediterranean Relations and Intercultural Dialogue

Abstract:
This article will look at EU visa policy as it affects Euro-Mediterranean relations. The claim of the EU institutions and Member States in respect of visa policy is that it is necessary to apply mandatory visa requirements on all nationals of some states in order to combat irregular immigration, organized crime, and terrorism.

It will examine three different categories of nationals of states on the southern shore of the Mediterranean all of whom are caught by the EU visa requirements: (1) tourists – what chances do they really have of getting a visa to come to the EU? (2) Diplomats – how does the EU treat persons travelling on diplomatic, service, and special passports from the countries on the southern shores of the Mediterranean, when do they need visas to travel? (3) Academics – are visas used as a restriction for academics from the southern Mediterranean seeking to come to the EU?

In examining the EU’s visa policy regarding these three categories of persons, we can draw some conclusions about how the EU’s assessment threats regarding irregular immigration, organized crime, and terrorism: (a) are consistent across the Member States in respect of countries in North Africa; (b) result in similar or different outcomes depending on the Member State to which an application is made; and (c) assist or complicate personto-person exchanges across the Mediterranean. Finally, the author will conclude with an examination of the proposals for visas in the EU’s blueprint for the next five years of the Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice, the Stockholm Programme – and pose the question: will the proposals bring greater coherence to the field?