The European Union (EU) is imposing visa limitations on individuals from Ethiopia due to the Ethiopian government’s perceived lack of cooperation in repatriating citizens who reside illegally within the EU.
In a statement released on Monday, the EU Council announced the new measures. Ethiopians will no longer be eligible for visas permitting multiple entries, and holders of diplomatic and service passports will no longer have their visa fees waived.
Furthermore, the visa application process will be extended from 15 to 45 days, according to the EU.
Ethiopia has not yet responded to these developments.
The EU’s decision stems from its belief that Ethiopia has not made sufficient efforts to repatriate its citizens residing illegally within EU borders.
While the EU has stated that these restrictions are not permanent, they have not specified when they will be lifted.
The EU is facing a significant influx of individuals from other nations. In the previous year, approximately 380,000 individuals entered the EU illegally, marking the highest figure since 2016.
