Head of PACE called for simplification of visa granting to Belarusian students :: Charter'97 :: News

Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van der Linden once again called for simplification of visa granting procedure to promote the students’ exchange between Belarus and other European countries. According the press-service of the Council of Europe, the head of PACE appeared with this call at the conference on creation of visa code of the European Union in Brussels 28 February .The conference was held by the European Parliament committee on civil freedoms, justice and internal affairs.

Rene van der Linden spoke for the visa-free treatment at the European continent. “Visa restrictions shall not cause national and international tension, he said. European citizens shall not encounter hardships and discomfort trying to overcome those visa restrictions”.

Head of PACE stressed that until the visa system exists due to threat of illegal migration, crime, and other proper reasons, the procedure of visa granting must be ”quick, efficient and convenient”.” Procedure of visa acquisition for individual applicant must be consistent and transparent”, Rene van der Linden said. Meanwhile, he pointed out that citizens of Eastern Europe encounter increasing complications and restrictions when going abroad.