From November 2023, the Western Balkan citizens will have to get permission, which will cost 7 EUR to obtain, before being allowed to cross any border of the Schengen country, regardless of their country operating under the EU visa-free regime.
Brussels sources told Beta news agency that the fee was introduced with the view of implementing a stricter control of the bloc’s outer border.
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The move, supported by EU member states ambassadors, has yet to be confirmed by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers before it becomes effective in less than three years from now in the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
The decision applies to all the people living outside the Union who do not need a visa for Schengen states, including the ones living in the Western Balkans, sources told the EU Council of Ministers.
The system says that after submitting a request, the EU will inform the traveller within 96 hours whether further checks are required.
Once approved, the travel license will last three years, or until the expiration date of the documents.
The Bulgarian Interior Minister, Valentin Radev said that the measure would alert authorities who entered the country even before the actual arrival “so that those who might threaten the security of our citizens can be stopped on time”.
Following the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels in 2015 and 2016, respectively and the immigration crisis, the European Commission had submitted a proposal to the EU members to step up the surveillance of external borders and introduce strict controls of all people entering and leaving the Union.
The e ETIAS system will henceforward apply to the Western Balkan countries, meaning that before they travel to the Schengen area they will have to apply online for permission which costs 7 EUR.
All information submitted by a citizen of the country that implements the visa-free Schengen regime will automatically be stored in the EU and Interpol databases to determine if there are any grounds for refusing a travel permit.
(Nedeljnik, N1, 26.04.2018)
https://www.nedeljnik.rs/politiko/portalnews/za-ulazak-u-eu-placacemo-7-evra/
Photo credits: Daily Express