EU votes to reinstate visa requirements as ‘last resort’

ISTANBUL

The European Parliament has voted in favor of a new mechanism that would allow the European Union to reinstate visa requirements to certain countries in the event of a “substantial and sudden increase” in the numbers of regular migrants as part of a move that is most likely to affect the recently added Balkan countries.

Though the Parliament highlighted that “the mechanism does not target specific countries,” the decision was interpreted as an attempt to curb influx of migrants to European countries from the Western Balkan countries, including Serbia and Albania, which are not EU members.

The decision was accepted by 328 votes in favor, and 257 against, while 46 members abstained.