Home » EUROPE » EU Strikes Landmark Deal on Visa Free Travel Suspension for Third World Countries

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

As part of a significant move towards enhancing EU security and promoting human rights, the European Parliament and the European Council have found common ground on new regulations for suspending third-country citizens’ visa-free travel. The new legislation, aimed at targeting the 61 countries currently exempt from visa requirements when visiting the Schengen Area, provides the EU with further powers for taking firm action in circumstances where there is a threat of security and other violations.

This is in line with years of advancements in jurisprudential development for exemptions of visas, where the European Union is strengthening its preparedness for responding to issues of escalating asylum applications, overstaying, and offenses of serious crimes. Through amendments, now the EU is in a better position for proactive management of breaches in international jurisprudence, offenses of human rights violations, as well as geopolitical shifts affecting ways of migration.

Key Amendments in Visa Suspension Rules

The EU’s earlier regulations for suspending visa-free travel, in place since 2013, already identified several grounds for triggering temporary suspensions. These included an uptick in asylum applications, especially from countries with low asylum recognition rates, as well as instances of overstays or refusals of entry. However, the new legislation sets more precise thresholds to better evaluate the situations that might warrant such a suspension.

A threshold of 30% has been established to define significant increases in the number of refused entries, overstays, and asylum applications, as well as cases involving serious criminal offenses. The asylum recognition rate threshold has been fixed at 20%, meaning if the rate falls below this figure, it will trigger scrutiny. These changes aim to provide a more measurable and systematic approach to visa suspension.

In addition to these more detailed thresholds, the new law introduces new grounds for suspension that reflect current global challenges. Specifically, the EU can now suspend a country’s visa-free travel status if it violates the United Nations Charter, breaches international human rights laws, or disregards international court decisions. These additions are designed to ensure that the EU can respond effectively to countries that jeopardize global stability or undermine fundamental international principles.

Hybrid Threats and ‘Golden Passports’ on the Radar

Another significant aspect of the new agreement addresses modern hybrid threats, including the instrumentalization of migrants by state actors. This practice, aimed at destabilizing or undermining EU society by encouraging irregular migration, will now be considered grounds for suspension. This provision is intended to thwart attempts by authoritarian governments to use migration as a political weapon.

The deal also includes measures targeting investor citizenship schemes, often referred to as “golden passports,” which provide wealthy individuals with citizenship in exchange for large investments. These schemes have raised security concerns, as they could potentially be exploited by individuals with nefarious intentions. Under the new rules, countries offering such schemes could face suspension if the EU deems them to pose a risk to security or undermine the integrity of the visa-free regime.

Additionally, countries that fail to align with EU visa policy, making them potential transit points for illegal entry into the Schengen Area, will also face the possibility of suspension. These measures are designed to address emerging migration routes and to ensure that countries maintain cooperation with EU efforts to control borders and uphold international law.

Changes in Suspension Duration and Government Accountability

In a move to strengthen the EU’s response, the new agreement extends the maximum duration for the temporary suspension of visa exemptions from the previous nine months to a full year. Furthermore, the suspension period can now be extended by an additional 24 months, up from the prior maximum extension of 18 months. This change is intended to allow more time for diplomatic negotiations and potential resolutions to the issues causing the suspension.

The EU’s primary goal during the suspension period is to engage in dialogue with the third country to address the issues that led to the suspension. If no satisfactory resolution is reached, the EU can opt for a permanent revocation of the visa-free status. Moreover, the law now permits the EU to target specific government officials who may be responsible for the violations or circumstances leading to the suspension. This added layer of accountability is aimed at ensuring that governments are held responsible for actions that undermine the EU’s security and values.

Broader Implications for Global Diplomacy and Travel

Matjaž Nemec, the rapporteur for the European Parliament on this issue, highlighted the broader implications of these reforms. He emphasized that the new visa rules would provide the EU with a stronger tool to respond to geopolitical situations and emerging threats. By ensuring that governments that breach human rights or international law face consequences, Nemec stated that the EU could safeguard its values and ensure that its visa policy is used to uphold global peace and stability.

This agreement not only affects the targeted third countries but also sets a precedent for future visa policy reforms within the EU. By linking visa policies to broader geopolitical concerns and human rights issues, the EU is signaling that it will not tolerate violations of international law or actions that threaten its internal security.

Next Steps for the Provisional Agreement

While the interim agreement has been reached, it is not yet finalized until it is ratified by both the European Parliament and European Council. Upon this accomplishment, the new regime of suspending visas shall be available for use, which would allow the EU to react fast when needed in defending its citizens as well as meeting its international obligations.

In the coming months, the European Commission will make these adjustments and continue to follow the situation in these countries, which would be substantially affected. This is in close consultation with third-country governments in a bid to address suspension-causing factors and avoid prolonged disruptions in the regime of visa-free travel.

References: European Commission official website, European Parliament official website, European Council official website