27 June 2008
PACE urges EU to lower Schengen visa fees for Belarusians
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has urged the European Union and European governments to lower Schengen visa fees and simplify visa procedures for Belarusian citizens.
“Amongst Europeans, Belarussian citizens have to pay the highest fees to enter countries belonging to the Schengen zone: 60 euros for a single-entry visa,” PACE said in a declaration issued on June 26. “This sum amounts to almost one third of the average monthly salary in Belarus. This, together with bureaucratic hurdles, creates overwhelming difficulties for ordinary Belarussians, especially students, youth and business people, in traveling to Europe and reduces even further their chances of coming into contact with other Europeans.”
“The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Council of Europe member States and the European Union have constantly and repeatedly stated that the policy applied towards the Belarussian authorities should not have any adverse consequences on ordinary Belarussians, who should not be isolated,” the declaration said. “However, the EU has made it clear that it will reduce visa fees only once Belarus joins the European Neighbourhood Policy.”
The declaration was signed by, among others, Andrea Rigoni, special rapporteur on Belarus in PACE; Sinikka Hurskainen, head of the PACE subcommittee on Belarus; Estonia’s Andres Herkel, who served as PACE rapporteurs on Belarus in the past; former PACE President Rene van der Linden; Mikhail Margelov, head of the Russian delegation to PACE; and also Albanian, Belgian, British, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Latvian, Polish, Swedish, and Turkish lawmakers.
http://brestonline.com/en/news/news2574.html