May 20 , 2026
The Council of the European Union has moved to lift the restrictive visa measures on Ethiopia, marking a reversal in Brussels’ use of visa rules as leverage over Addis Abeba’s cooperation on the return of its citizens who do not have the legal right to remain in Europe.
The decision, adopted on May 18, 2026, repeals a resolution passed two years ago, which had suspended parts of the EU visa code, in relation to Ethiopia. EU officials stated at the time the time that the measure was intended to pressure Addis Abeba to improve cooperation on readmission matters, an area where the European Commission had found Ethiopia’s response "insufficient."
That assessment appears to have changed now. According to the Commission, cooperation with Ethiopia has "improved substantially," particularly in the identification of Ethiopian citizens “illegally staying in the territory of the member states,” the issuing of emergency travel documents, and the regular organisation of return operations.
However, the move does not immediately take effect across the board.
"The decision will come into force once member states are individually notified, leaving its practical implementation dependent on the formal notification process within the EU system," said a statement the EU issued yesterday.
The EU rules concern short stays only, defined as stays of no more than 90 days within any 180-day period. They apply to Schengen visas, which are currently issued by 25 of the 27 EU member states, together with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Cyprus, where controls at internal borders have not yet been lifted, and Ireland, which is not part of the Schengen area, do not issue Schengen but national visas.
In-Picture | Nov 21,2018
Radar | Mar 20,2021
Radar | Jun 05,2021
Fortune News | May 29,2021
Fortune News | Aug 13,2022
Commentaries | Sep 21, 2024
Radar | Apr 12,2020
Fortune News | May 18,2019
Fortune News | Aug 09,2025
Featured | Jan 01,2022
Photo Gallery | 186798 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 176826 Views | Apr 26,2019
Photo Gallery | 172799 Views | Oct 06,2021
My Opinion | 139916 Views | Aug 14,2021
May 16 , 2026
The federal budget tells a troubling story about inflation, debt and reform. The prob...
May 9 , 2026
The Ethiopian state appears to have discovered a fiscal instrument that is politicall...
May 2 , 2026
By the time Ethiopia's National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) reached the end of its fir...
Apr 25 , 2026
In a political community, official speeches show what governments want their citizens...
Loading your updates...