EU proposes stricter rules of Visa suspension to handle migrants

Aiming to reform the region’s problematic migration system, the European Commission on Wednesday suggested establishing more stringent procedures for suspending visas. The EU declared that it would broaden the list of situations in which it would be able to revoke visa-free policies, including hybrid threats and the implementation of investor citizenship programs. It further stated that in order to respond more quickly in the event of a security breach or a sharp rise in the number of migrants arriving, new urgency protocols would be implemented. A key component of the European Union’s migration reform, the preliminary agreement struck a week ago opened the door for the establishment of uniform guidelines to handle an unanticipated huge entry of asylum seekers. At a conference of ambassadors in Brussels, the agreement on the so-called Crisis Regulation was finalized. Interior ministers had been unable to complete their work on the draft text last week due to Italy’s unexpected blockade. (With input from agencies)