You're reading: BBC: EU parliament approves visa waiver suspension powers

MEPs give final approval to new emergency powers to suspend visa-free travel rights with countries that have signed visa liberalisation deals with the EU. Approval of the new powers is seen as a crucial step before granting visa-free travel to Ukraine and Georgia.

The new legislation would allow either the Commission or a majority of EU states to suspend a country’s visa exemptions if there is a large increase in asylum requests.

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