Simplification of the visa regime between the EU and Azerbaijan may occur in the summer

"We hope that the agreement between the European Union and Azerbaijan on visa facilitation and readmission agreements will enter into force in the summer of this year," the head of the EU Delegation in Baku, Malena Mard, said at the press conference today.

The cost of visa fees will be reduced from 60 to 35 euros. In a lite mode visas will be received by a number of categories of the population: students, participants of scientific exchange, businessmen, journalists, members of official delegations, etc.

The number of documents to obtain visas will be also reduced.

In addition, the Commission proposes to facilitate the general rules for the issuance of Schengen visas. "This project was approved yesterday by the European Commission and submitted for approval to the Member States," she said.

Now the holders of visas issued for 90 days may stay in the Schengen area within six months. According to the same innovation, according to the length of stay, the visas have been increased to 1 year.

The procedure for issuing multiple-entry visas for business and a number of other categories has been also simplified. If during the year a person has received two short-term visas and did not commit any violations, he can get multiple-entry visas for a period of three years or more.

The EU believes the new rules will attract additional 7 million tourists a year to the Schengen zone. -06C-