EU Tightens Visa Requirements for Ethiopians, Citing Lack of Cooperation

BRUSSELS - The European Union has declared its decision to tighten visa requirements for Ethiopian nationals, citing the lack of cooperation from the Ethiopian government in accepting back its citizens found to be residing illegally in the 27-nation bloc.

The EU headquarters disclosed that the processing time for visas for Ethiopian nationals will be extended, tripling from 15 to 45 days. Additionally, EU countries are no longer allowed to exempt certain paperwork requirements or issue multiple-entry visas. Furthermore, Ethiopian diplomats and officials will now be responsible for paying for their travel visas.

Visa Rules as Pressure Tool

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, has emphasized its intent to utilize visa rules as a means to exert pressure on nations to cooperate in deportation procedures. As per the Commission, only about one in three individuals instructed to leave the EU actually do so.

The European Commission has clarified that the step is being taken due to “a lack of response from the Ethiopian authorities with regard to readmission requests,” as well as deficiencies in “the organization of both voluntary and non-voluntary return operations” – the EU's term for deportation.

Illegal Stay in the EU

Notably, most individuals staying illegally in the EU enter without contravening any rules via airports or ports but subsequently do not depart once their visas expire, outnumbering those arriving via unseaworthy boats or overland routes in search of refuge, employment, or a better life in Europe.

Ethiopia’s Situation

Ethiopia is currently grappling with conflict and a humanitarian crisis. The two-year conflict in the northern Tigray region, culminating in a peace deal in November 2022, has left a majority of the region’s 6 million inhabitants reliant on international aid.

Ethiopia serves as a significant origin and transit point for migrants and refugees in the Horn of Africa region, often functioning as a nexus for individuals from Eritrea and Somalia who aspire to reach Europe or other northern parts of the African continent.