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The Commission proposes to open negotiations on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements with Azerbaijan

20 September 2011 12:46 (UTC +04:00)

"Easier access to visas will improve cooperation and exchanges between the EU and Azerbaijan. Visa facilitation and readmission agreements are very tangible results of the Eastern partnership and I know how much this means to the citizens of these countries", said Cecilia MalmstrÃ¶m, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.
â€œThe human dimension of the Eastern Partnership is one of its most important ones. Fostering mobility and people-to-people contacts through visa facilitation is fundamental in order to promote social and economic development and mutual understanding between the people. The proposals to open negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Azerbaijan are an important step in this direction." said Å tefan FÃ¼le Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy.
The Commission proposes to open negotiations on a visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan. The agreements will be based on reciprocity and provide visa facilitations for citizens of Azerbaijan. The list of suggested visa facilitations include the simplification of documentary evidence to be submitted in support of the visa application, the possibility of issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity, the waiving/reducing of the handling fees for specific categories of travellers, set deadlines for processing visa applications, as well as a possible exemption from the visa obligation for holders of diplomatic passports.
At the same time, the Commission proposes to combine the easing of visa requirements for travellers from Azerbaijan with agreed mechanisms for the readmission of irregular migrants. The negotiation of readmission agreements will provide for the speedy return of nationals staying without authorisation on the territory of the EU or Azerbaijan.