Europe is open for Seychelles

Seychelles President James Michel has welcomed the signing of the European Union agreement for a “Short-Stay Visa-Waiver” that enables Seychellois to travel to the European Union without a Schenge

Seychelles President James Michel has welcomed the signing of the European Union agreement for a “Short-Stay Visa-Waiver” that enables Seychellois to travel to the European Union without a Schengen visa.

“This is a extraordinary day for Seychelles,” said President Michel. “The agreement is symbolic of the partnership that has been built up over many years between Seychelles and the EU.”

Last week, the European Union changed its policy for aid to Seychelles and has agreed that its grant assistance will henceforth be delivered as budgetary support rather than program-based assistance. President Michel said that the visa-waiver agreement was a further step in establishing closer relations with the European Union, and that many Seychellois would benefit from the ease of travel that such an agreement provided.

“The European Union has opened another door to Seychelles,” said President Michel. “Once again the European Union has proved the confidence that it has in our country.”

As May 29, 2009, the citizens of Seychelles may enter and stay without a visa in the territory of the European Union for a period of stay not exceeding three months. This also applies to citizens of the EU Member States visiting Seychelles.

The signing ceremony of the “Agreement between the European Community and Antigua & Barbuda; the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; Barbados; the Republic of Mauritius; the Republic of Seychelles; the Federation of Saint Kitts & Nevis on the Short-Stay Visa Waiver” took this the afternoon in Brussels.

The agreement was signed by Seychelles ambassador to the EU, Barry Faure, and the Council of the European Union was represented by Mrs. Helena Bambasová, the Czech deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Jacques Barrot, vice president of the European Commission.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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