Azernews.Az

Talks between the European Union and Azerbaijan on simplifying visa regulations will be completed in a short time if Baku puts forward political will, head of the EU Delegation to the country told reporters on Friday.

Roland Kobia confirmed the Azerbaijani foreign ministry’s information that negotiations on the issue will begin February 7 in Baku. He added that the composition of the EU delegation which will arrive in Baku for the purpose has yet to be determined.

Kobia said simplified visa regulations would make travel to Europe easier for Azerbaijani citizens and allow them to obtain visas faster, cheaper and for a long term.

A simplified visa regime would halve to 30 euros the fee for visas issued to Azerbaijanis traveling to Europe.

The EU has already simplified visa regulations with Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia, which led to a many-fold increase in the inflow of tourists to the four ex-Soviet republics.

The EU council of ministers issued a mandate to the European Commission on December 20, 2011 to start negotiations on visa facilitation with Azerbaijan.

The list of suggested visa facilitations include the simplification of documents to be submitted in support of the visa application, the possibility of issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity, set deadlines for processing visa applications, as well as a possible exemption from visas for diplomats.

The European Commission proposes to combine the easing of visa requirements for travelers from Azerbaijan with agreed mechanisms for the readmission of irregular migrants. The negotiation of readmission agreements will provide for the speedy return of nationals staying without authorization on the territory of the EU or Azerbaijan.

The visa facilitation negotiations follow the political commitment taken at the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit in May 2009.

Once negotiated, the agreements on visa facilitation and readmission can only enter into force simultaneously.