‘Visa liberalization’ provides for reduction in Schengen visa prices, increase in their validity period and change in the documents. At the Eastern Partnership summit, which will be held in Riga in May, Belarus and the EU can sign a visa facilitation agreement.
According to the Belarusian ambassador to Belgium, Andrei Yavdouchanka, there are no ‘serious disagreements’ between Belarus and the EU that would prevent them from signing the agreement or at least to pre-align the text.
The first round of consultations on visa liberalization between Belarus and the European Union was held in Minsk on 12-13 June 2014, the second one – in Brussels on 24-25 November.
According to the EU representative in Belarus, Maira Mora, Schengen visas could become cheaper for Belarusians, the list of categories of citizens who will be able to obtain visas free of charge will grow, and persons with a ‘good visa history’ will be able to obtain a permit for a longer period.
