SVG negotiating EU visa waiver

A visa waiver for Vincentian citizens travelling to the European Union (EU) may become a reality by September this year, should ongoing negotiations prove successful.{{more}}

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs Dr. Douglas Slater made the announcement at the recently-commenced annual consultation with heads of missions and consulates.

Currently, Vincentians have to obtain a Schengen visa to travel to the participating European countries.

“We hope by September that we will be successful in having a waiver of visa for the EU countries,” said Slater.

The European Commission is scheduled to meet towards the end of this month to discuss the matter.

He added that getting Schengen visas requires a visit to the nearest EU embassy or mission which, for Vincentians, means a trip to St. Lucia.

“That costs some money,” pointed out Slater.

“You have to buy a ticket… overnight because it is unlikely you are going to come back the same day. You may have to pay [for] a hotel. You have to buy food… you are not too sure whether you will get the visa.”

And on top of those expenses, there is a non-refundable visa application fee. If approved, the visa lasts for only three months.

“We recognise that all that is not a desirable situation for our citizens. We have been actively engaged in negotiations over the past year and a half… they are very favourable,” added Slater.

However, he acknowledged that despite seeming highly probable at present, there is no guarantee that government officials will secure the visa waiver.

“We’re talking about twenty plus EU countries that have to unanimously agree!”

Slater also pointed out that the recent spate of uprisings in the Middle East and Africa has caused “a wave of refugees into the EU”, and has made European governments more reluctant to open up their borders.

He said that the government has been advised to individually engage the concerned EU countries at every opportunity, on a “bilateral level”.

Additionally, Slater explained that St. Vincent and the Grenadines recently supported the EU in active negotiations with the United Nations; and he hopes that this action will contribute in swaying them to agree to the visa waiver.

“They have interests and we have interests… there is no free lunch,” he pointed out.

“While we might not discuss the ‘menu’… we are very much aware and cognizant of what we want, and what they want. That’s where our ambassadors come in.”(JV)