Belarus and the EU Signed an Agreement on Visa Facilitation

Belarus and the European Union have signed an agreement on visa facilitation and cooperation between the parties in the field of readmission. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry website reported. According to the new document, the visa fee for Belarusians wishing to visit the EU will be € 35. In addition, according to the European Commission website report, the time for processing visa applications will be reduced. At the same time, some categories of travelers, including journalists, students and members of official delegations will be able to receive multiple-entry visas with a longer validity period, while providing less documents required to confirm the purpose of the trip. According to the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson the agreement will improve the mobility of our citizens in a well-managed and secure environment and help build closer links between Belarus and the European Union. It is specified that the agreement requires ratification by the National Assembly of Belarus and the European Parliament. Negotiations between Minsk and Brussels on visa agreement have been ongoing since 2014. The Council of the European Union expressed its readiness to sign the document in November 2019. In September same year, made by the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko made the corresponding decision.