Concerns about the correct application of the EU visa liberalisation scheme in Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

10.11.2010

Question for oral answer O-0181/2010
to the Commission
Rule 115
Simon Busuttil, Manfred Weber, Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, Monika Hohlmeier
on behalf of the PPE Group

The Council decided to grant visa-free travel to and throughout the Schengen area for citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. It did so by adopting amendments to Regulation (EC) No 539/2001. The visa waiver applied from 19 December 2009 to holders of biometric passports.

The Commission (COM(2009)0366) had concluded that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia had met all the benchmarks by the date of adoption of this Regulation and the European Parliament (P7_TA(2009)0062) had voted in favour of granting the visa-free regime on 12 November 2009.

Concerns have recently been expressed in Belgium, Germany and Sweden, and similar observations have been made by Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, regarding the increased number of applications for asylum from Serbian and FYR Macedonian citizens and the risk that this situation would eventually jeopardise the EU visa liberalisation scheme introduced in 2009.

Does the Commission therefore not consider it would be appropriate to take action to help the national authorities responsible in Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to deal with the current situation and to properly inform their citizens, in order to prevent the misuse of visa liberalisation with a view to stabilising the flows of asylum seekers?

Tabled: 10.11.2010

Forwarded: 12.11.2010

Deadline for reply: 19.11.2010