The amendments include expanding the reasons that allow for the suspension of the visa-free travel system to include violations of the United Nations Charter, non-compliance with international court rulings, or disagreements with European visa policy. The reforms also stipulate the possibility of suspension in cases of involvement in human rights violations or other serious offenses.
In another context, the European Union will face its first real test of its new migration policy mechanism in the coming weeks, amid concerns of complex and sensitive negotiations among the 27 member states. In 2024, the Union approved a comprehensive reform, which is set to come into effect in the coming months.
Under the new mechanism, member states are annually obligated to receive a specified number of individuals or pay financial compensation of 20,000 euros per person to countries facing greater pressures. At least 30,000 asylum seekers are supposed to be redistributed annually. Negotiations are expected to soon begin on how to distribute these individuals among countries, at a time when the issue is considered highly politically sensitive.
