THE European Union (EU) has announced stringent measures aimed at Ethiopian travellers, accusing the Ethiopian government of non-cooperation in facilitating the return of citizens found living illegally in the EU. This move underscores the EU’s commitment to leveraging visa regulations to enforce deportation cooperation with non-EU countries.
EU headquarters disclosed on Monday that visa processing time for Ethiopian nationals will be extended significantly, tripling from 15 to 45 days. Furthermore, EU member states will no longer have the flexibility to waive specific paperwork requirements or issue multiple-entry visas. Additionally, Ethiopian diplomats and officials will now be subject to visa fees for travel to EU countries.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, emphasised its intent to use visa regulations as leverage to encourage countries to comply with deportation procedures. Notably, only about one-third of individuals ordered to leave the EU actually depart.
The Commission cited ‘a lack of response from the Ethiopian authorities with regard to readmission requests,’ alongside deficiencies in organising both voluntary and non-voluntary return operations, commonly described as deportation, as reasons for this action.
A significant proportion of individuals residing illegally in the EU arrive through lawful means via airports or ports but overstay their visas, surpassing those who arrive through other means such as by sea or overland seeking refuge, employment, or better opportunities in Europe.
Ethiopia, currently embroiled in conflict and a humanitarian crisis, has been a focal point for migration in the Horn of Africa region. The two-year conflict in the Tigray region, which concluded with a peace agreement in November 2022, has left a vast majority of the region’s 6 million inhabitants reliant on international aid.
Moreover, Ethiopia serves as both a primary source and transit hub for migrants and refugees in the Horn of Africa, particularly those from Eritrea and Somalia aiming to reach Europe or other parts of northern Africa.
The EU’s decision to tighten visa rules for Ethiopians reflects broader concerns over migration challenges and deportation cooperation amid ongoing humanitarian crises in various regions.