Ethiopia has expressed its dismay at the recent visa restrictions imposed by the European Union, which were announced by the Council of the European Union on Monday.
These restrictions temporarily limit the issuance of visas to Ethiopian citizens.
The European Union stated that it implemented these restrictions in response to Ethiopia’s perceived lack of cooperation in facilitating the return of its citizens who do not possess legal residence status in Europe.
Under the new decision, the processing time for visa requests from Ethiopians has been extended from 15 to 45 days.
This decision affects not only ordinary Ethiopian citizens but also those with service and diplomatic passports.
The Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels, the capital of the European Union, released a statement expressing disappointment with the EU’s decision.
The embassy emphasized that the timing of the visa restrictions is unfortunate, especially as Ethiopia is actively working to repatriate its citizens who lack residence permits in European countries.
It highlighted ongoing efforts to verify the citizenship status of Ethiopians living in Europe without proper documentation and to organize their dignified return.
However, the embassy lamented that despite these efforts, the European Union proceeded with implementing visa restrictions without adequate consultation.
It argued that such restrictions could hinder Ethiopia’s endeavors to repatriate its citizens and called for a reconsideration of the decision.
Furthermore, the embassy urged the European Union to take into account the longstanding relationship between Ethiopia and the EU, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a cooperative approach towards addressing migration issues.
European Union is a significant partner for Ethiopia, providing substantial financial and technical support, accounting for a significant portion of Ethiopia’s export destinations, and being a key source of foreign direct investment.
Furthermore, the EU has been actively involved in humanitarian efforts in Ethiopia, allocating funds to rehabilitate former combatants from conflicts in northern Ethiopia and provide assistance to millions of Ethiopians displaced by conflicts and climate-related crises.
