Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Commission today adopted the fifth assessment report submitted to the Council of the Union on the level of cooperation in readmission by third countries under Article 25a of the Visa Act. Alongside the report, UNHCR submitted a proposal on visa measures with Somalia to enhance cooperation on readmission. The Commission will transmit its report and proposal to the Council, where member states will decide the next steps. In parallel, UNHCR will continue to intensify its engagement with Somalia to improve this cooperation.
Visa measures have previously been proposed under Article 25A by the Commission in relation to Ethiopia, Gambia, Senegal, Bangladesh and Iraq. The Council adopted the proposal on Ethiopia in April 2024. Regarding Gambia, an increase in visa fees was proposed in 2022 due to insufficient cooperation. In light of the progress made by The Gambia on repatriation flights, and based on the Commission’s proposal in September 2023, the increased visa fees were canceled in April 2024. The first set of measures, previously adopted in 2021, remains in effect for The Gambia. Proposals for Bangladesh, Iraq and Senegal remain before the Council, with the aim of increasing cooperation in readmission. The matter here concerns the readmission of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected by the European authorities
Under the revised Visa Act, the Commission annually assesses readmission cooperation with non-EU Member States, reports to the Council and actively engages in dialogue to improve readmission cooperation with partners. The Commission's final proposals submitted to the Council on visa procedures take into account the Union's overall relations with the countries concerned. The Commission and the European External Action Service will continue their active engagement with these partners to improve cooperation on readmission.