EU's visa mechanism comes into force

Source: Beta

BRUSSELS -- A new European Union (EU) mechanism enabling for urgent reintroduction of travel visas for the Western Balkan countries enters into force on Thursday.

(Beta/AP, file)

So far, no member of the organization has requested to use the mechanism.
The legislation was adopted in December due to the increasing number of fake asylum seekers from the Western Balkans and other abuses of the visa-free regime, which in recent years caused concern in the EU.

According to a "protective clause", the mechanism can be applied at the request of an EU member.

The suspension of the visa free regime "can be applied as a last resort" in the event of a sudden increase in the number of fake asylum seekers, irregular entries into the EU or "a more massive rejection of EU requests for readmission and return of persons who violate the visa-free regime," Beta reported.

According to its sources in Brussels, the European Commission is constantly monitoring the situation, which is so far unchanged, and a noticeable increase in the number of asylum seekers was noted only in Germany.

This came as the country's Supreme Court reinstated a previous system of financial and other benefits for asylum seekers who can stay in the country for up to six months as their requests are being considered.