EU will check visa application more thoroughly

brussels - People from outside Europe who have to apply for a visa to visit the Schengen countries will be checked more thoroughly in the future. Especially due to safety and migration risks, they are taken by various information systems.

With this tightening of the so-called Visa Information System (VIS), the European Commission wants to close the loopholes. Through this system, the border guards along the external borders of the EU are in contact with the consulates of the Member States around the world.

From now on, people who apply for a longer stay are also included. Copies of the travel document of all applicants are now available in the VIS, which is also accessible to asylum and investigation services. 'Criminals and potential terrorists are not allowed to enter Europe unnoticed,' said EU Commissioner Dmitris Avramopoulos (Migration). 'Europe is not a fortress, but we need to know who is crossing our border. '

In 2016, almost 14 million visas were granted for a visit to the countries in the Schengen area.

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