Following a discussion in the Committee on Civil Liberties of the European Parliament (LIBE) about the introduction of European Travel and Information Authorisation System – ETIAS, numerous reports and comments in media and on social networks in the Western Balkans have inaccurately interpreted ETIAS and novelties it will introduce to the system of visa-free travel to the countries of the Schengen Area.
In order to clarify the situation, below is the full statement made by European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos:
“The Western Balkans are a key region and close partner of the EU. We have every intention to preserve this proximity and partnership, and to facilitate mobility and people-to-people contact between the EU and the Western Balkans. A year ago, we proposed to establish a European Travel and Information Authorisation System (ETIAS) to strengthen our capacity to manage the security or migration risks linked to an increased number of visa free travellers. Increased security is beneficial both for the EU and the visa-free countries to safeguard our reciprocal mobility. ETIAS is not a visa, but a simple and cheap visitor-friendly security mechanism that applies to ALL countries whose citizens travel visa free to the Schengen area, including countries like the US and Canada. Citizens from visa free countries will still be able to travel without a visa but will have to obtain a simple travel authorisation prior to their travel to the Schengen Area. It is a small procedural step which will help travel to the EU in the vast majority of the cases, and will bolster our common security, while in parallel avoiding bureaucracy and delays upon arrival.“
More information and details on ETIAS, are available on the link:
https://europa.rs/security-union-a-european-travel-information-and-authorisation-system-questions-answers/?lang=en
