With the current reform, the EU wants to be able to react more quickly, more specifically and more effectively to situations in which visa-free entry is abused or used against the interests of the EU.
Who is currently allowed to travel to the EU without a visa?
Citizens of currently 61 third countries - including Israel, Australia, Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom and many Western Balkan countries - may travel to the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa.
These stays are limited to tourist, family or business purposes. Work or permanent residence is not permitted.
The so-called visa-free regime is a privilege for many countries - but can already be suspended by the EU under certain circumstances. For example, if there is a sudden increase in irregular migration or if there are security concerns.
EU entry without a visa: what should change?
The current reform tightens the so-called "suspension mechanism". In future, the EU can suspend visa-free travel for a country even if it:
- Serious human rights violations,
- Violations of the UN Charter,
- or disregard of international court rulings.
What is also new, however, is that the mechanism no longer has to apply across the board to the entire population of a third country. In future, the EU can decide to suspend visa-free travel only for government representatives, diplomats or other decision-makers - especially if they are directly responsible for human rights violations or foreign policy infringements.
Which countries could be affected?
Officially, the regulation is not aimed at any particular country. However, as the news portal euronews reports, Israel could be one of the first countries to be affected. The background to this are accusations by the United Nations (UN) that Israel committed war crimes and violations of international law during the Gaza war.
Should the mechanism actually take effect, Israeli citizens (or people from other affected countries) would have to apply for a visa to enter the EU in future.
The new regulation is not yet in force, but only needs to be formally adopted by the EU Parliament and the Council.
