Schengen visas for Belarusians can get cheaper
8:21, — society
Several committees of Bundestag are to discuss the project on lower price for Schengen visas for Belarus on November 7.
As the office of Green Party Deputy Marieluise Beck reported, the project is to be considered by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Internal Affairs, and Committee on Human Rights. The date when the project will be considered by the German parliament is not known yet.
The proposal to reduce visa prices for certain social groups of Belarus was made by the fractions Bьndnis 90/Green Party, Free Democratic Party of Germany and the fractions of governmental parties - the Christian Democratic Union / Christian Social Union and Social Democratic Party of Germany.
The proposals are mostly similar, and the parts attempt to compile a common paper and to adopt it after the committees will have made their decision. Bundestag is to pass the resolution to the government.
The German parliamentarians offered the German government to make visas for the Belarusians under 25 years old and for those who travel to Germany on the programmes of cultural and scientific exchange free of charge. Moreover, it is proposed to reduce the visa price from EURO 60 to EURO 35 for the Belarusians with low income.
The price of Schengen visa increased on 1 January 2007 after biometrical visas had been introduced.
Germany is entitled to reduce visa price unilaterally and in particular cases. According to the Schengen agreement, all the members take visa charges within the same rules which have certain exceptions.
In this matter much depends on the Belarusian authorities - whether they are ready to start democratic reforms.
