Implementing decision 2024/1341 - Suspension of certain provisions of Regulation 810/2009 in respect of Ethiopia

Official Journal

of the European Union

EN

L series

2024/1341

14.5.2024

Following an assessment pursuant to Article 25a(2) of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, the Commission considers that cooperation with Ethiopia in the field of readmission is insufficient. Significant improvements in the cooperation on all the steps of the readmission process are needed, including to ensure that Ethiopia effectively cooperates with all Member States in a timely and predictable manner on the identification and issuance of travel documents, and on return operations.

There are persistent challenges in the identification of Ethiopian nationals illegally staying on the territory of the Member States. Those challenges are due to the lack of response from the Ethiopian authorities with regard to readmission requests, difficulties with the issuance of emergency travel documents, which are generally not provided even when the nationality has previously been confirmed, and difficulties with the organisation of return operations for voluntary and forced returns on scheduled and charter flights.

Taking into account the various steps taken so far by the Commission to improve the level of cooperation with Ethiopia and the Union’s overall relations with Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s cooperation with the Union on readmission matters is not sufficient and action is therefore needed.

The application of certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 should therefore be temporarily suspended for nationals of Ethiopia who are subject to the visa requirement pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2). The objective is to encourage Ethiopia to undertake the actions necessary to improve cooperation on readmission matters.

The provisions temporarily suspended should be those referred to in Article 25a(5), point (a), of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, namely: the possibility of waiving requirements with regard to the documentary evidence to be submitted by visa applicants referred to in Article 14(6) of that Regulation; the optional visa fee waiver for holders of diplomatic and service passports in accordance with Article 16(5), point (b), of that Regulation; the general processing period of 15 calendar days referred to in Article 23(1) of that Regulation, the suspension of which would, as a consequence, also exclude the application of the rule allowing for the extension of that period up to a maximum of 45 calendar days only in individual cases, meaning that the standard processing period would be 45 calendar days; and the issuing of multiple-entry visas in accordance with Article 24(2) and (2c) of that Regulation.

This Decision should not affect the application of Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), which extends the right of free movement to family members irrespective of their nationality when accompanying or joining a Union citizen. This Decision should thus not apply to family members of a Union citizen to whom Directive 2004/38/EC applies or to family members of a national of a third country enjoying a right of free movement equivalent to that of Union citizens under an agreement between the Union and a third...