Kazakhstan Urges EU to Expedite Schengen Visa Facilitation Negotiations
Highlights:
- Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko emphasized the urgency of launching negotiations for a Visa Facilitation Agreement with the EU.
- He stated that initiating these talks promptly would benefit both Kazakhstan and the EU.
- Kazakhstan seeks to simplify Schengen visa application rules for its citizens.
Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko met with EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Aleška Simkić, on December 23 to discuss key areas of cooperation. During the meeting, Vassilenko urged the EU to expedite the start of negotiations on the Visa Facilitation Agreement. He highlighted the mutual importance of initiating these talks and shared updates on Kazakhstan’s preparations to sign the Horizontal Aviation Agreement with the EU, aimed at fostering closer ties and enhancing business collaboration.
The meeting also addressed strengthening cooperation across various sectors, with both parties welcoming progress on previously agreed initiatives.
EU’s Readiness for Visa Facilitation Negotiations
In October, the EU confirmed its willingness to deepen cooperation with Kazakhstan and begin preparations for both the Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements. Initial talks to simplify Schengen visa applications for Kazakhstanis were officially launched in June 2024, but preparatory work remains before implementation.
Kazakhstan’s Expectations from the EU
Kazakhstan has outlined specific requests in the negotiations, including:
- Reducing the Schengen visa application fee, which recently increased from €80 to €90.
- Issuing longer-validity visas to Kazakh citizens.
- Accelerating the visa application processing time.
To address EU concerns, Kazakhstan has pledged measures to prevent irregular migration and committed to cooperating on the readmission of nationals staying in the EU without proper documentation. The authorities emphasized the country’s steps to ensure that tourists return after their visits.