EU Reaches Agreement on Revised Schengen Visa Suspension Mechanism to Strengthen Security

The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached a provisional agreement on June 17, 2025, to overhaul the Schengen Visa Suspension Mechanism, a critical tool for managing visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. This reform, proposed by the European Commission in October 2023, aims to address challenges such as irregular migration, security risks, and abuses of visa-free arrangements while maintaining the integrity of the EU’s visa liberalization policy.

Key Revisions to the Schengen Visa Suspension Mechanism

The updated rules introduce significant changes to make the mechanism more flexible and responsive to emerging threats. Key points include:

Expanded Grounds for Suspension

The updated mechanism now allows for visa-free access to be revoked under additional circumstances, such as:

• Insufficient alignment with EU visa policy, particularly when a third country’s lax visa policies lead to increased irregular migration. For example, cases like Serbia’s 2022 visa-free arrangements with countries like Burundi prompted concerns about backdoor entry into the EU.

• Deterioration in external relations, including serious breaches of international law, human rights violations, or non-compliance with international court decisions. (European Parliament Press Release)

• Hybrid threats, such as state-sponsored instrumentalization of migrants to destabilize the EU, and investor citizenship schemes ("golden passports") that pose security risks.

Lower Thresholds and Flexible Procedures

The Schengen Visa Suspension Mechanism now uses clearer thresholds to trigger suspensions, such as:

• A surge of 30% or more in either unauthorized stays or asylum requests that have a low acceptance rate (below 20%).

• The Commission retains discretion to modify these limits when properly justified.

• The initial suspension period is extended from 9 to 12 months, with a possible 24-month extension, allowing more time for dialogue with the third country.

• An urgency procedure has been introduced for rapid response to sudden challenges.

Targeted Suspensions

The revised rules allow the EU to target government officials of third countries responsible for violations, preventing member states from exempting diplomatic or service passport holders from suspensions. This enhances accountability for breaches like human rights abuses.

Enhanced Monitoring

The European Commission will strengthen its oversight, regularly reporting to the European Parliament and Council on visa-free countries where challenges are identified, ensuring continuous compliance with visa liberalization criteria.

Why the Reform of the Schengen Visa Suspension Mechanism Matters

The Schengen Visa Suspension Mechanism, introduced in 2013 and last updated in 2018, enables the EU to temporarily or permanently revoke visa-free access for third countries when specific conditions are unmet. Currently, nationals of 61 countries, including Ukraine, Georgia, and Western Balkan nations, enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

However, risks such as overstays, unfounded asylum claims, and security threats have prompted the EU to refine its approach. The reform addresses evolving challenges, such as:

• Misalignment in visa policies, which can facilitate irregular migration.

• Citizenship-by-investment schemes that raise security concerns.

• Human rights violations and hybrid threats, aligning the mechanism with broader EU foreign policy objectives. (RFE/RL Report)

Next Steps

The provisional agreement awaits formal adoption by the European Parliament and the Council. The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) will finalize negotiations, with a plenary vote expected soon. If no objections are raised, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and take effect 20 days later, potentially by fall 2025.

Implications for Visa-Free Countries

The revised Schengen Visa Suspension Mechanism sends a clear message to visa-free third countries: compliance with EU standards is non-negotiable. Countries like Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, which benefit from visa liberalization, face increased scrutiny, particularly if democratic backsliding or policy misalignments occur.

For more updates on EU visa policies, visit VisasUpdate.com.