FRONTEX WATCH

EU interior and justice ministers in an agreement in Luxembourg in April 2006 had increased the Schengen visa fee from 35 euros to 60 euros for 15 countries, including Turkey, Algeria and Morocco. The new fee started to be implemented Jan.1, 2007. The EU then stated the fee increase was not applicable for Russia, while Ukraine and the Balkan countries were given a deadline of one year to make the necessary arrangements before facing the EU’s new standards. Shortly before the deadline, however, a new deal was made with four Balkan countries, excluding Serbia, under which the visa fee was decreased.

Macedonia signed the agreement in Brussels on Friday (13 April) while Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro signing up on the sidelines of a meeting in the Croatian capital Zagreb between internal and justice ministers of south eastern Europe on Saturday (14 April).

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