The European Union has warned that it could impose restrictive visa implementation rules on Nigeria, if it failed to co-operate in the readmission of its nationals deported from EU member countries. A restrictive visa regime would make obtaining visas to EU countries more difficult for Nigerian applicants.

The EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms Virginie Battu-Henriksson, said this in an interview with the Nigerian daily The PUNCH.

Nigerians are among top 10 nationals illegally staying in EU, she revealed in the report published by the newspaper on Tuesday.

Battu-Henriksson stated, “What the EU can do since new rules on short-stay visas to the EU became applicable on 2 February 2020, is to adapt the rules on processing short-stay visa applications, depending on whether a non-EU country cooperates satisfactorily on the return and readmission of their nationals staying irregularly in the EU.

“Under the new rules, the EU Commission will regularly assess the level of cooperation of non-EU countries on the readmission of irregular migrants. If the level of cooperation is insufficient, the commission, together with member states, can decide on a temporary more restrictive implementation of certain provisions of the visa code.

“This could have an impact on the processing time, the length of validity of the visa to be issued, the level of the visa fee to be charged and the fee waivers. It is important to note that this mechanism does not amount to a visa ban and does not call into question the right to submit an application for a visa or to be granted a visa. It only allows for a more restrictive implementation of some of the visa rules. This concerns short-stay visas to the Schengen area, covering stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.”

Battu-Henriksson recalled that in 2016, an EU Council decision authorised the opening of negotiations on readmission agreement with Nigeria – making it only the second country in West Africa with which the EU was negotiating such a formal agreement.

The readmission agreement seeks to ensure that Nigerians travelling to the EU take only the legal routes and that Nigeria readily readmits its citizens deported from the EU.

“It is in our common interest to work on dissuading migrants to take dangerous irregular routes to Europe and risk exploitation. Returns and readmission are part of working on this common endeavour,” she said.

According to a recent report by the international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, Germany plans to deport more Nigerians this year. The government says there’re about 12,000 Nigerians in the country whose asylum applications have been rejected and have been asked to leave the country. Across, the 27-member EU, it’s believed that more than 100,000 Nigerians have no legal residency papers.

United States had last month imposed immigrant visa ban on Nigeria and five other countries. Citizens of the affected countries would not be allowed to apply for visas to emigrate to the US under the policy aimed at tightening “security for countries that don’t comply with the US minimum security standards or cooperate to prevent illegal immigration.”

https://www.theafricancourier.de/migration/eu-warns-nigeria-over-irregular-migration-threatens-tour-visa-rules/

Nigerian deportee arriving at the Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Nigerians deportee arrive Lagos from Europe, November 2017. The European Union has warned that it could impose restrictive visa implementation rules on Nigeria, if it failed to co-operate in the readmission of its nationals deported from EU member countries / Photo: NAN

The West keeps harassing us and trashing us with one ban or the other yet China, and Russia that are partnering with us people hate them and call them names.. Jack Ma a Chinese billionaire freely donated tons of face mask, Sanitizers, Chinese Government sent 15 highly skilled Doctors with 50 Ventilators, and at this Time only thing Europeans are doing is deporting and sending us threat

Disgusting Americans who gave us a travel ban affecting professionals, now have it on their website that they need Nigerian doctors and would issue express visas

.

itsme01:



The West keeps harassing us and trashing us with one ban or the other yet China, and Russia that are partnering with us people hate them and call them names

Disgusting Americans who gave us a travel ban affecting professionals, now have it on their website that they need Nigerian doctors and would issue express visas

.

true talk

To hell with EU.

Bi iya nla ba gb'olue shanle ,kerekere na a si ma gori eni

Na our slowpoke leader is blame wey turn this country into scornful image

itsme01:



The West keeps harassing us and trashing us with one ban or the other yet China, and Russia that are partnering with us people hate them and call them names.. Jack Ma a Chinese billionaire freely donated tons of face mask, Sanitizers, Chinese Government sent 15 highly skilled Doctors with 50 Ventilators, and at this Time only thing Europeans are doing is deporting and sending us threat

Disgusting Americans who gave us a travel ban affecting professionals, now have it on their website that they need Nigerian doctors and would issue express visas

.

You forgot to mention that China is kicking Nigerians out and sizing their passports? The USA is looking for qualified medical personnel from around the world not just Nigerians.

The EU only want Nigerians to respect their visa conditions and stop abusing their immigration system, there is nothing wrong with that.

justwise:


You forgot to mention that China is kicking Nigerians out and sizing their passports? The USA is looking for qualified medical personnel from around the world not just Nigerians.

The EU only want Nigerians to respect their visa conditions and stop abusing their immigration system, there is nothing wrong with that.

until China issues a statement on why "some" Nigerians got kicked out, I don't believe the sensational stories on social media, and are EU citizens also not everywhere violating other peoples Visa Laws especially around Middle East and UK

justwise:


You forgot to mention that China is kicking Nigerians out and sizing their passports? The USA is looking for qualified medical personnel from around the world not just Nigerians.

The EU only want Nigerians to respect their visa conditions and stop abusing their immigration system, there is nothing wrong with that.

Since Trump issued the travel ban on Nigeria, I think the EU will do the same no matter what Nigeria does. Immigration around the world is tightening.

itsme01:


until China issues a statement on why "some" Nigerians got kicked out, I don't believe the sensational stories on social media, and are EU citizens also not everywhere violating other peoples Visa Laws especially around Middle East and UK

If EU citizens are violating other countries visa rules then those countries will deal with them just as the EU will deal with Nigerians.

If you are waiting for China to make an official statement then you will wait forever.

The way you people are praising China now was the same way America was praised in the past and now America is the enemy number one.

Until we (Nigerians) learn to respect laws at home and overseas the restrictions would be coming harder and harder on us.

And by the way the US is not looking for medical professionals the misinformation was corrected in a press release of March 27 2020; here below

********************************

U.S. Embassy Nigeria
March 27 at 1:56 PM · Public
The U.S. Mission is aware of a misunderstanding caused by a message that led many to believe the U.S. is recruiting foreign medical professionals to assist the COVID-19 response. This is incorrect. Only medical professionals with a previously approved H or J petition will receive an emergency visa appointment. We are sorry for the misunderstanding.

*********************************
If there is need for medical professionals, there are thousands of them (foreigners) in the US who need to pass their board exams to practice. That's a lot easier than the visa process.

And the same Chinese are harassing and kicking our people out of hotels.

The solution is within Nigeria not chasing the west or east. As long as you continue to chase and beg Desperately, you will not be respected.

itsme01:



The West keeps harassing us and trashing us with one ban or the other yet China, and Russia that are partnering with us people hate them and call them names.. Jack Ma a Chinese billionaire freely donated tons of face mask, Sanitizers, Chinese Government sent 15 highly skilled Doctors with 50 Ventilators, and at this Time only thing Europeans are doing is deporting and sending us threat

Disgusting Americans who gave us a travel ban affecting professionals, now have it on their website that they need Nigerian doctors and would issue express visas

.