BRUSSELS, CMC – Nationals of several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries that enjoy visa-free entry into the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180 days may soon have that situation revoked.
The European Parliament has passed new rules that make it easier for the European Union (EU) to revoke visa-free access for countries whose citizens pose security threats or fail to respect human rights.
The legislation, negotiated between Parliament and Council representatives, passed with 518 votes in favor, 96 against, and 24 abstentions. It still requires formal adoption by the Council and will come into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal.
Under the revised rules, the European Commission can launch the visa suspension process either on its own initiative or following a request from an EU member state. The process begins with a temporary halt to visa-free travel and can become permanent if the concerns are not resolved.
The reform is designed to ensure that short-term entry privileges remain conditional on security, human rights compliance, and legal obligations, giving the EU a precise tool to respond to evolving risks.
The legislation applies to 61 countries that currently allow short-term stays in the Schengen Zone of up to 90 days in any 180 days without a visa.
Among the Caribbean countries likely to be affected are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as British Overseas Territories.
Under the updated framework, the European Commission can begin by temporarily suspending visa-free entry for a country if there are concerns about safety, serious criminal activity, overstays, or a spike in rejected asylum applications.
If these issues remain unresolved, the suspension can be made permanent, but so far, the only instance of revoked visa-free travel has involved Vanuatu.
The reforms introduce several new triggers for removing visa privileges. These include hybrid threats, such as the manipulation of migration by a foreign state, including investor citizenship programs, violations of international law or UN mandates, and failure to comply with international court decisions.
Existing factors, like general security risks or lack of cooperation on returning migrants, remain part of the criteria.
The EU parliament has set clear thresholds. They said a 30 per cent rise in serious crimes or overstaying incidents, along with a 20 per cent low approval rate for asylum applications, will prompt action.
In exceptional circumstances, the Commission can adjust these limits based on well-supported evidence. The rules also allow the EU to target government officials responsible for human rights violations or other breaches, enabling selective suspension rather than punishing entire populations.
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