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Thursday, 07.07.2011
East Committee urges for visa free travel by 2018
Berlin. The german Committee on East European Economic Relations wants fixed deadlines for the abolishment of visa requirements between the EU and its East European neighbor states — and calculates its losses due to this hurdle.
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"At the latest for the Football World Cup in Russia in 2018 a mutual visa freedom with Russia and other East European countries such as the Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus should be in place", stated the East Committee Chairman Eckhard Cordes in Berlin.
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The East Committee presented a paper based on the issue of visa requirements that resulted from a survey of 200 companies. This shows that the economy is not only effected by the cost incurred through visa applications. 78 percent of companies complain that meetings at short notice are just not feasible.
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Visa as competition and investment barrier
20 percent state that orders were lost to competitors due to visa problems. 56 percent of companies explain that they would be able to invest far more in Russia or the EU should the visa requirements be abolished. For 83 percent the abolishment of visa requirements for Russia is an important issue for their business development.
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The visa requirement between the EU and its east European neighbors burdens the European economy with hundreds of millions of Euros annually. The East Committee estimates the costs for visa applications between Germany and Russia at ˆ 162 million each year.
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"European economic recovery program at zero cost"
Visas are a cost factor, they are a constant obstacle to investment and create competitive disadvantages" said Cordes:" In the era of biometric passports, visas are no longer necessary. The abolition of visa requirements would be a European stimulus program at zero cost, it would reduce costs, encourage investment and yield greater returns from year to year.
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The EU received bad reviews with regards to its visa policies. Only eleven percent of companies were satisfied with the visa requirements. 34 percent spoke of discrimination against the East Europeans. Easing of requirements would already be possible today, according to Cordes. German Consulates would need to review the existing requirements more consistently.
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Germany should put others under pressure
«Germany should be more engaged within the EU with regards to the subject of visa liberalization as the German economy would benefit most», states Cordes. He also pointed out the skills shortage in Germany that is increasingly aggravated by the demographic development.
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«How can we attract much needed skilled workers for Germany if we already at the granting of tourist visas signal that they are only welcome here subject to specially conditions?»
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