Events

MOSCOW, 19 June (BelTA) – The Belarusian-Russian agreement on the mutual recognition of visas will be signed before the end of 2017, reads the plan of action for 2017-2020 on the development of the common migration space of the Belarus-Russia Union State, which was adopted at a meeting of the Union State Council of Ministers in St. Petersburg on 16 June, BelTA learned from the Union State Standing Committee.

The uniform visa policy is the centerpiece of the plan of action. It provides for the preparation and signing of the agreement on the mutual recognition of visas before the end of 2017,” the Standing Committee noted. “This will remove the problem of the Russian-Belarusian border crossing by third-country nationals which has escalated recently. In addition, the parties will be working on the convergence of visa application procedures and regulations. The parties will also work out the possibility of introducing a unified visa of the Union State.

The plan contains both legal and organizational-practical activities: preparation of the international treaties in the field of migration, the harmonization of legislation on migration policy, monitoring of the treaties and agreements, joint operational and preventive measures, the organization of workshops, information interaction and cooperation in human resourcing.

The plan envisages the development of a draft concept of migration policy of the Union State and a plan of action to implement it by 2025. “Thus, the plan is designed to develop the cooperation in the development of the common migration space of the Union State, and to address new challenges, including those associated with the development of the common visa space,” the Standing Committee informed.