Latest news with #MatjažNemec
Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Israel Among First at Risk as EU Tightens Visa-Free Entry Rules
European Union introduces tougher criteria for suspending Schengen visa waivers, placing Israel and Serbia under potential scrutiny In a major shift to its travel policy, the European Union is poised to reform the mechanism that governs short-stay visa-free access into the EU and Schengen countries — with Israel reportedly among the first nations at risk under the new rules. The European Parliament and Council reached a political agreement on Tuesday to expand the grounds for suspending visa-free travel. For the first time, violations of international human rights, humanitarian law, and breaches of United Nations resolutions could justify the imposition of mandatory visas for countries currently benefiting from the waiver. According to EU Parliament sources cited by Euronews, Israel's treatment of Palestinians and its ongoing military campaign in Gaza have raised significant concern, with allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity being referenced in UN reports. Serbia has also been named as another country under watch due to repeated concerns about human rights violations. Currently, nationals from 61 countries — including Israel, Australia, the UK, Japan, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans — enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, this exemption can be suspended under certain conditions, though such action has only been taken once in the past — against the Republic of Vanuatu. Under the new agreement, the suspension mechanism will become easier to trigger. Thresholds for invoking the mechanism have been lowered, and additional criteria have been introduced. Notably, the reformed rules empower the EU to suspend visa-free access if a country is found to be violating UN Charter principles, ignoring international court rulings, or involved in systemic human rights abuses. 'This tool helps us deliver the values that have built our community and allows us to enforce human rights and respect for international law,' said Slovenian MEP Matjaž Nemec, the lead rapporteur for the legislation. 'No specific country is being targeted,' he added, although sources suggest that discussions around Israel played a significant role in shaping the final draft. Under the procedure, the European Commission would issue an implementing act to suspend visa-free access for an initial period of one year. This decision must be approved by EU member states and can only be blocked by a qualified majority. Extensions would require further acts, which could be vetoed by either the Council or the European Parliament. In addition to human rights criteria, the reformed regulation introduces stricter controls over irregular migration. The threshold to flag a "significant increase" in irregular stays will now drop from 50% to 30% of the previous period's numbers. Furthermore, the benchmark for low asylum approval rates — another trigger for suspension — will rise from 4% to 20%. These changes are seen as part of the EU's broader push to manage migration and assert values-based diplomacy. 'The Polish presidency pushed hard for this reform due to strong ambitions among member states,' Nemec added, highlighting the political momentum behind the deal. While the legislation has been agreed upon in principle, it must still be formally adopted by both the European Parliament and the Council before becoming law. Once enacted, it could have significant implications for countries currently enjoying visa-free travel — especially those under scrutiny for human rights practices.
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
EU visa rule change set to target Israeli citizens
BRUSSELS — Israel is set to be one of the first countries targeted by a reform of the mechanism to suspend short-stay visa-free travel into the EU and Schengen countries agreed on Tuesday by the European Parliament and the Council according to European Parliament sources. The new rules amend the grounds for suspending visa free schemes to include violations of human rights, which could lead to the imposition of mandatory visas for Israeli citizens, among others, sources from the Parliament familiar with the dossier told Euronews. Currently nationals from 61 countries - including Australia, Brazil, Israel, Japan, UK, Ukraine and the Western Balkan states - may travel to the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The EU can suspend the visa-free regime under specific conditions. So far this has happened only once — with the Republic of Vanuatu — due to its citizenship-by-investment scheme, which granted wealthy Russians Vanuatan passports allowing free travel into the EU. Under the new agreement between EU lawmakers and member states, the suspension mechanism will now be easier to trigger however, as the thresholds have been lowered and new criteria added. For example, violations of the United Nations Charter, severe breaches of international human rights or humanitarian law, and non-compliance with international court decisions will now be valid grounds for suspending a country's visa-free status. 'This tool helps us deliver the values that have built our community and allows us to enforce human rights and respect for international law,' Slovenian MEP Matjaž Nemec, the rapporteur for the bill in Parliament, told Euronews. 'No specific country is being targeted,' he added. However, Israel's status is among countries most at risk of having its status challenged under the new procedure, Parliament sources told Euronews, due to accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in its war on Gaza — allegations that have been raised by the UN. Serbia is another likely to be targeted, due to human rights concerns highlighted by the UN, the sources said. Under the procedure, the European Commission has to issue an implementing act to suspend the visa-free scheme for a particular country for one year. This decision only requires approval by the member states, and can be blocked by a qualified majority. To extend the suspension, the Commission must issue a delegated act, which can instead be blocked by either the Council or the Parliament. Countries in the Schengen area — which includes all EU states except Cyprus, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland — may also push the Commission to start the procedure, by notifying that they believe the conditions for triggering the mechanism are met. The Parliament may also propose a non-binding resolution recommending suspension of a country's visa-free status. 'It is more likely that an EU member state would raise the issue of Israel, rather than the Parliament,' a source familiar with the matter told Euronews, adding that several political groups in the Parliament pushed for the inclusion of human rights violations with Israel in mind. Among other legislative changes included in the bill are new provisions related to migration. Currently, a substantial increase in the number of people of a specific nationality staying irregularly in the Schengen area or a rise in asylum seekers from a country with a low recognition rate can justify suspending the visa-free regime. Under the reform, the threshold for assessing an increase in irregular stays will be lowered from 50% to 30% of the previous period's number. Meanwhile, the threshold for a "low recognition rate" of asylum applications will be raised from the current 4% to 20%. This would broaden the spectrum of the countries involved and would ease triggering the mechanism. Indeed the changes aim to send a message to countries benefiting from visa-free access, encouraging them to reduce migration to the EU. 'The Polish presidency, which leads the Council, pushed hard for this reform because of strong ambitions among member states. That's why we were able to reach an agreement today,' said Matjaž Nemec. The deal reached on Tuesday still needs to be formally adopted by both the Parliament and the Council before becoming EU law. — Euronews
Gulf Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Schengen Area: EU Set To Toughen Visa-Free Travel Suspension Rules
The European Parliament and Council teams have agreed to allow the EU to suspend visa-free travel for short stays into the union. The decision comes after a reform of the mechanism to suspend short-stay visa-free travel into the EU was agreed upon, allowing the union to 'respond more flexibly when countries backslide on important principles of their visa waiver agreement, which can include security concerns and human rights violations'. The provisional agreement is yet to become law, as it needs to be formally adopted by both Parliament and Council. In future, violations of the United Nations Charter, severe breaches of international human rights or humanitarian law, and not complying with international court decisions will be valid grounds for suspending visa freedom. 'This helps align the grounds for suspension with the grounds for granting the visa waiver in the first place, and can create a deterrent effect,' the European Parliament said. With the new law, additional grounds for suspending the visa waiver will include hybrid threats, such as state-sponsored instrumentalisation of migrants aimed at destabilising or undermining society; and investor citizenship schemes ('golden passports'), which raise security concerns. A country's lack of alignment with EU visa policy, potentially making it a transit country for illegal entry into the EU, will also be a valid ground for suspending visa-free regimes. Existing grounds, including a lack of cooperation on readmissions, will be maintained. To deter third-country governments from violating the terms of their short-stay visa waiver agreement, the agreed law gives the EU more flexibility to target government officials (who may bear responsibility for a government's human rights breaches or other violations) with suspensions of visa freedom. Based on a proposal, it was agreed that the Commission can prevent member states from exempting from visa suspension diplomatic and service passport carrying government and state officials. After the vote, rapporteur Matjaž Nemec (S&D, Slovenia) said: 'Reformed visa rules will give the EU a revamped tool to respond to geopolitical situations and new threats. Visa policy can contribute to upholding EU values by ensuring that there are consequences when a foreign government breaches human rights and international law. In such cases, their government representatives and diplomats should have their visa-free access to the EU revoked, and this agreement makes that more likely.' Nationals of 61 third countries can currently travel to the Schengen area for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) without a visa. According to the current law, the European Commission, following a proposal by a concerned member state or on its own initiative, can start the process of suspending visa-free travel from third countries into the Schengen area, first temporarily, pending further investigation and dialogue with the country in question, and then permanently if the issues are not resolved.
Euronews
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
EU lawmakers take aim at Eurovision over ‘rigged' televote
Just over two weeks after the conclusion of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, controversy over the integrity of televoting continues to mount. A group of 12 MEPs from socialist, leftist, green, and liberal groups has written to the top brass of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the contest, expressing 'renewed apprehension regarding increasing concerns of irregularities tied to the 2025 contest' in a letter seen by Euronews. Their appeal follows a wave of concern from national broadcasters, including the Netherlands' AVROTROS/NPO, Norway's NRK, Spain's RTVE, Slovenia's RTVSLO, Iceland's RÚV, Belgium's Flemish VRT, and Finland's Yle. The broadcasters cited suspicions of televoting manipulation and questioned the role of state-backed promotion, particularly involving this year's runner-up in the contest, Israel's entry, which reportedly benefited from campaigns pursued by the Israeli Government Advertising Agency (Lapam). Irish broadcaster RTÉ has formally requested access to the voting data, while VRT publicly questioned whether it will continue participating in the contest if full transparency is not ensured. 'While the Eurovision Song Contest is meant to unite Europe through music and culture, recent developments have cast a shadow over its credibility and neutrality,' Slovenian MEP Matjaž Nemec, who initiated the letter, told Euronews. Nemec criticised the involvement of national governments in promoting their acts, calling it a breach of the EBU's principles of fairness, impartiality, and independence. The letter cites data from VRT revealing significant and unexplained discrepancies between viewer numbers and televoting participation during the 2023–2025 contests. 'These trends are not easily explained by organic fluctuations in viewer enthusiasm and warrant further scrutiny,' the letter reads, warning that the increasing number of broadcasters questioning their own data points to a deeper, systemic issue. 'This is not an isolated concern: it signals a broader problem that must be addressed,' Nemec said. The MEPs have called on the EBU to take specific actions, including releasing complete voting data, authorising an independent audit, and enforcing safeguards to prevent political interference in the contest. 'Without answers and accountability, Eurovision risks losing the trust of its audience and becoming a stage not for unity, but for manipulation,' Nemec warned, adding that the European public deserves full transparency on this year's voting process. Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green has issued an open letter addressing concerns about transparency and the integrity of the voting process. Green acknowledged the issues raised by broadcasters and confirmed that they would be discussed at the upcoming EBU Reference Group meeting. He noted that while promotional efforts by participating countries are permitted and common in the music industry, the EBU is reviewing whether such campaigns could unduly influence public voting. He also pointed out that Eurovision's voting system incorporates 'multiple security layers' and is overseen by over 60 professionals across Cologne, Vienna, and Amsterdam, while the voting is managed by Once Germany GmbH and independently verified by EY (Ernst & Young). Regarding the current rule limiting votes to 20 per payment method per person, Green stated that there is no evidence this affects the results. Nonetheless, the issue will be re-examined as part of the post-contest review process.
