Latest news with #EUCouncil
Local France
a day ago
- Local France
ETIAS: Fee for European travel authorisation set to increase to €20
ETIAS - the second part of the EU's new border control measures - will apply to tourists entering Europe from non-EU or non-Schengen zone countries (including the UK) as well as others coming for short visits. Under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), non-EU nationals who can travel to the Schengen area without a visa will have to apply for an online travel authorisation before departure, providing information such as name, date of birth and travel document number. They will also have to pay a fee for the three-year travel authorisation (although under 18s and over 70s are exempt). The Commission said on Friday that the ETIAS is expected to become operational in the last quarter of 2026, at a higher fee than initially planned. "Taking into account the rise in inflation since 2018 and additional operational costs related eg to new technical features integrated into the system, the fee will be adjusted to €20 per application, valid for a period of three years,' the Commission said. Advertisement "It will also bring the cost for a travel authorisation to the EU in line with similar travel authorisation programmes such as the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA),' the EU executive added. The UK launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation in 2023 and extended it to EU nationals in 2025, increasing its cost from £10 to £16 in April. While the ETA lasts two years, the ETIAS is valid for three years. The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) costs $21. People under 18 or over 70 years of age at the time of application will be exempted from the ETIAS fee. The new fee will have to be endorsed by the EU Council and the European Parliament in the coming months. Which one is ETIAS again? The EU has big changes planned at its external borders, with two new systems - EES and ETIAS. EES is an enhanced passport check requiring biometrics including fingerprints and a facial scan. ETIAS is a travel authorisation which must be applied for online - and paid for - ahead of travel. The ETIAS 'is part of the new IT architecture of the EU that aims to strengthen security within our Union, while facilitating travelling of non-EU nationals,' the Commission said. Advertisement Both schemes apply only to people who are travelling on the passport of a non-EU or Schengen zone country, and both schemes have a number of exemptions - including non-EU citizens who have residency within an EU or Schengen zone country. Find the full details here . When are these changes coming in? Initially envisioned for 2018, EES and ETIAS have been the subject of numerous delays, first because of the pandemic and then because of fears of queues at the border as countries struggled to get the necessary infrastructure in place. The busy UK-France border is a particular worry . The EES is set to begin its phased roll out in October 2025 after several delays due to the functioning of the huge IT infrastructure behind it and concerns expressed by several member states and travel companies at the chaos it could provoke, especially at juxtaposed border checks in the UK. ETIAS is currently scheduled for the last quarter of 2026 - although the plan is to wait until EES is working smoothly before ETIAS is introduced, so it could be delayed again.
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
EU sets talks with GCC states on strategic partnerships
The EU on Friday said that it had received the mandate to launch negotiations with the Gulf Co-operation Council's six countries on concluding bilateral strategic partnership agreements. Negotiations will start 'as soon as possible,' the EU Commission, the bloc's legislative arm, said. The complementary agreement negotiations are expected to go ahead with UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. 'There is huge untapped potential in the EU's relationship with the Gulf region. As of today, we will negotiate bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements with the six Gulf partners,' the EU's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Friday. The aim of the strategic partnership agreements 'is to provide for an ambitious, modern, comprehensive and effective framework for bilateral co-operation tailored to the shared priorities and objectives of the EU and each respective GCC partner,' the press statement read. Commissioner for trade and economic security Maros Sefcovic said that the agreements would provide a 'major boost' to trade and investment relations. The negotiations framework includes a wide range of topics, including foreign and security policy, justice and law enforcement, and trade and investment. The EU has also struck strategic partnership agreements with allies including Canada in 2016 and Japan in 2019. Strategic partnership agreements with GCC countries 'will also allow for strengthening our co-operation at regional level to build peace and promote stability and prosperity in the broader Middle East,' said Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica. The talks will complement existing EU – Gulf co-operation frameworks, including continuing regional and bilateral negotiations on free trade agreements. The EU and GCC have sought in recent years to revive talks on a free-trade agreement that stalled in 2008. In 2023, the EU was the GCC's second largest import partner, at €93.8 billion ($102 billion), and fourth-largest export partner, at €76.3 billion. In April, the UAE and the EU separately agreed to begin talks on a potential free trade deal.
Local Germany
2 days ago
- Local Germany
ETIAS: Fee for European travel authorisation set to increase to €20
ETIAS - the second part of the EU's new border control measures - will apply to tourists entering Europe from non-EU or Schengen zone countries, including the UK, as well as others coming for short visits. Under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), non-EU nationals who can travel to the Schengen area without a visa will have to apply for an online travel authorisation before departure, providing information such as name, date of birth and travel document number. They will also have to pay a fee for the three-year travel authorisation (although under 18s and over 70s are exempt). The Commission said on Friday that the ETIAS is expected to become operational in the last quarter of 2026, at a higher fee than initially planned. "Taking into account the rise in inflation since 2018 and additional operational costs related eg to new technical features integrated into the system, the fee will be adjusted to €20 per application, valid for a period of three years,' the Commission said. Advertisement "It will also bring the cost for a travel authorisation to the EU in line with similar travel authorisation programmes such as the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA),' the EU executive added. The UK launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation in 2023 and extended it to EU nationals in 2025, increasing its cost from £10 to £16 in April. While the ETA lasts two years, the ETIAS is valid for three years. The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) costs $21. People under 18 or over 70 years of age at the time of application, as well as family members of EU citizens and of non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely in the EU, will be exempted from the ETIAS fee. The new fee will have to be endorsed by the EU Council and the European Parliament in the coming months. Which one is ETIAS again? The EU has big changes planned at its external borders, with two new systems - EES and ETIAS. EES is an enhanced passport check requiring biometrics including fingerprints and a facial scan. ETIAS is a travel authorisation which must be applied for online - and paid for - ahead of travel. The ETIAS 'is part of the new IT architecture of the EU that aims to strengthen security within our Union, while facilitating travelling of non-EU nationals,' the Commission said. Advertisement Both schemes apply only to people who are travelling on the passport of a non-EU or Schengen zone country, and both schemes have a number of exemptions - including non-EU citizens who have residency within an EU or Schengen zone country. Find the full details here . When are these changes coming in? Initially envisioned for 2018, EES and ETIAS have been the subject of numerous delays, first because of the pandemic and then because of fears of queues at the border as countries struggled to get the necessary infrastructure in place. The busy UK-France border is a particular worry . The EES is set to begin its phased roll out in October 2025 after several delays due to the functioning of the huge IT infrastructure behind it and concerns expressed by several member states and travel companies at the chaos it could provoke, especially at juxtaposed border checks in the UK. ETIAS is currently scheduled for the last quarter of 2026 - although the plan is to wait until EES is working smoothly before ETIAS is introduced, so it could be delayed again.
Local Spain
2 days ago
- Local Spain
ETIAS: Fee for European travel authorisation set to increase to €20
ETIAS - the second part of the EU's new border control measures - will apply to tourists entering Europe from non-EU or Schengen zone countries, including the UK, as well as others coming for short visits. Under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), non-EU nationals who can travel to the Schengen area without a visa will have to apply for an online travel authorisation before departure, providing information such as name, date of birth and travel document number. They will also have to pay a fee for the three-year travel authorisation (although under 18s and over 70s are exempt). The Commission said on Friday that the ETIAS is expected to become operational in the last quarter of 2026, at a higher fee than initially planned. "Taking into account the rise in inflation since 2018 and additional operational costs related eg to new technical features integrated into the system, the fee will be adjusted to €20 per application, valid for a period of three years,' the Commission said. "It will also bring the cost for a travel authorisation to the EU in line with similar travel authorisation programmes such as the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA),' the EU executive added. The UK launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation in 2023 and extended it to EU nationals in 2025, increasing its cost from £10 to £16 in April. While the ETA lasts two years, the ETIAS is valid for three years. The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) costs $21. People under 18 or over 70 years of age at the time of application, as well as family members of EU citizens and of non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely in the EU, will be exempted from the ETIAS fee. The new fee will have to be endorsed by the EU Council and the European Parliament in the coming months. Which one is ETIAS again? The EU has big changes planned at its external borders, with two new systems - EES and ETIAS. EES is an enhanced passport check requiring biometrics including fingerprints and a facial scan. ETIAS is a travel authorisation which must be applied for online - and paid for - ahead of travel. The ETIAS 'is part of the new IT architecture of the EU that aims to strengthen security within our Union, while facilitating travelling of non-EU nationals,' the Commission said. Both schemes apply only to people who are travelling on the passport of a non-EU or Schengen zone country, and both schemes have a number of exemptions - including non-EU citizens who have residency within an EU or Schengen zone country. Find the full details here. When are these changes coming in? Initially envisioned for 2018, EES and ETIAS have been the subject of numerous delays, first because of the pandemic and then because of fears of queues at the border as countries struggled to get the necessary infrastructure in place. The busy UK-France border is a particular worry. The EES is set to begin its phased roll out in October 2025 after several delays due to the functioning of the huge IT infrastructure behind it and concerns expressed by several member states and travel companies at the chaos it could provoke, especially at juxtaposed border checks in the UK. ETIAS is currently scheduled for the last quarter of 2026 - although the plan is to wait until EES is working smoothly before ETIAS is introduced, so it could be delayed again.
OC Media
5 days ago
- Politics
- OC Media
EU pledges €1.5 million for Armenian media
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member The EU has pledged €1.5 million ($1.8 million) to independent Armenian media to support the country's 'information ecosystem'. The announcement came as part of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to Brussels on 14 July, where he met with EU Council President António Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. According to a joint press release published on Pashinyan's website, Costa and Von der Leyen 'welcomed Armenia's ambitious reform agenda and expressed their support for Armenia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic reforms'. Pashinyan and the EU officials also 'noted with satisfaction' the progress made in the visa liberalisation process and Armenia's adoption of its EU membership bill. The EU also expressed support for Armenia's Crossroads of Peace initiative — a proposal to unblock transit routes in the region through Armenia. According to the statement, the EU has also proposed working together with Armenia in addressing 'a range of security concerns, including foreign information manipulation and interference, disinformation, and cyber threats'. Following the meeting with Von der Leyen and Costa, Pashinyan met with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Martha Kos, who similarly praised Armenia's 'ambitious reform agenda'. Advertisement They discussed the implementation of programmes funded by the EU, with Pashinyan highlighting the importance of the international community's support in addressing the social problems of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. According to a statement about their meeting, Kos said she was planning to visit Armenia 'in the near future to discuss joint programmes and initiatives in more detail'.
