The EU suspends visa-free travel for citizens of third countries.

The European Parliament approved a visa regime reform that grants the European Commission the authority to temporarily or fully suspend the visa-free regime for citizens of third countries entering the Schengen area. The new rules will allow the introduction of additional visa requirements even for short-term trips of up to 90 days in case of threats to the internal security of the European Union.

The reform provides for the expansion of grounds for suspending the visa-free regime. Among them are hybrid threats, the use of migration for political purposes, non-compliance with the EU visa policy, citizenship-for-investment programs («golden passports»), as well as violations of international law and decisions of international courts. Moreover, new restrictions apply to foreign diplomats and government officials who were not previously subject to similar measures.

The introduction of new rules is explained by the need to strengthen control over migration flows. At the same time, the EU reserves the right to review the visa regime depending on the level of cooperation of third countries in addressing crime, illegal migration, and violations of visa legislation.