DISINFO: The visa-free travel regime for non-EU countries allows Europeans to get cheap labor
SUMMARY
The notorious visa-free travel regime for non-EU countries is not a payment for their aspirations for European integration but an easier way for Europeans to get cheap labour.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative about the EU's visa liberalisation, in this case for Moldova. In fact, visa liberalisation for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova is provided by Regulation (EU) no. 259/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014.
Thus, from 28 April 2014, the citizens from Moldova, who hold biometric passports, can travel without visas to 26 countries in the Schengen Area, with the exception of Great Britain and Ireland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has also developed a Guide which provides answers to the most frequently asked questions related to free movement in the European space. Here it is expressly mentioned that visa-free travel to EU countries does not offer the right to work, study, stay for more than 90 days, and does not allow for family reunification.
The EU has conducted ‘Visa Liberalisation Dialogues’ with three Eastern Partnership countries, namely Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Through these dialogues, the EU has taken gradual steps towards the long-term goal of visa-free travel on a case-by-case basis, provided that conditions for well-managed and secure mobility are in place.
On 20 December 2017, the European Commission published its First Report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism (Communication and accompanying Staff Working Document) reporting on the continuous fulfilment of the visa liberalisation benchmarks for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries.
See previous disinformation case targetting visa liberalisation process.