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. The main direct impacts of visa liberalisation included an immediate increase in shortterm travel to the countries of destination from
visa-free countries and an immediate reduction in the
workload of consulate staff. The new visa-free regime
also led to an increase in border control activities by EU
Member States and Norway to avoid the misuse of visa
liberalisation.
2. One of the main indirect impacts of visa liberalisation related to the facilitation of access
to the labour market in specific Member States.
Following visa liberalisation, which has made it easier for
third-country nationals to travel to the EU and Norway
to explore employment opportunities, there has been
an increase in the number of residence permits issued
to nationals of the eight visa-free countries (mostly for
remunerated activities). Another indirect impact relates
to higher levels of cooperation during return and readmission procedures with visa-free countries.
3. Following visa liberalisation, there has been an
overall increase in the number of asylum applicants from visa-free countries, most of which have
received a negative decision. Some of the measures
adopted by Member States to cope with the high number
of asylum applications included the designation of
visa-free countries as safe countries of origin (allowing
an accelerated asylum procedure), information campaigns and cooperation with the national authorities of
visa-free countries.
4. There has been an increase in the number of
nationals from visa-free countries detected as
overstaying their maximum period allowed after
visa liberalisation and 12 Member States reported this
as a challenge. However, it was not possible to establish
a clear link between visa liberalisation, irregular stay
and overstay and less than half of the Member States
implemented any specific measures to combat this
phenomenon.
5. Most Member States did not report any specific
challenges in the area of illegal employment after
visa liberalisation was introduced. Only a few Member
States adopted measures specifically targeting nationals
from visa-free countries.
6. There was little evidence of a link between
visa liberalisation and the facilitation of irregular
migration. Several Member States adopted additional
or new measures to counter the activities of facilitators
after visa liberalisation, including reinforcing bilateral
cooperation, strengthening penalties for facilitation of
irregular migration and setting up joint police investigations. Similarly, available data cannot establish a clear
link between visa liberalisation and any increases in
smuggling and trafficking in human beings.
7. After visa liberalisation was introduced, several
Member States observed an increase in criminal
activities. All eight visa-free countries were asked to
reinforce their actions to fight against such activities,
particularly against organised crime groups. This phenomenon is closely monitored and failure to cooperate
with EU Member States and Norway in this area could
lead to the suspension of the visa-free travel to nationals from the eight countries subject of this study.
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