By David Jessop The Director of the Caribbean Council

	The Epa negotiated by Europe's Trade Commission team has long-ranging impact

While the formal treaty arrangement may come into being against a background of demonstrations partly orchestrated by bodies from outside the region, there is little political appetite in the region to reject what has been agreed.

This means that the EPA’s trade provisions will gradually come into force while many of its other provisions will take effect immediately.

Among these are some widely misunderstood new arrangements allowing freer entry into Europe for certain categories of Caribbean citizens.

Under the new treaty and after its signing, Caribbean business men and women and professionals plus those involved in providing cultural services will have the right to temporarily enter Europe for a cumulative period of not more than six months in any twelve months.

New entry plans

Similar arrangements that were for the most part are already in place will apply to their European counterparts arriving in the Caribbean.

But what seems to be less well understood is that these new arrangements will still be subject to whatever visa or entry arrangements that European or Caribbean nations have.

	Even Jamaica's top athletes could be affected by European visa requirements

Temporary entry is a globally contentious and politically charged issue of concern to electorates everywhere.

As a consequence authorities in every nation maintain discretion and constantly review the levels of access they offer.

This in the Caribbean temporary changes were made during the period of cricket world cup to try to ease travel but for the most part entry regulations into individual Caribbean jurisdictions remain tight for visitors from Europe other than tourists.

In the case of entry into Europe changes in the visa regime has occurred gradually so that with the exception of special arrangements for the United Kingdom and Spain (depending on the nationality of the Caribbean visitor) a so called Schengen visa is required.

Schengen

To explain: the name Schengen originates from a small town in Luxembourg where European countries first agreed to a treaty to end internal border checkpoints and controls.

Since then a total of twenty nine states, including twenty five European Union states and four non-EU members (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), are bound by an amended version of this treaty.

This requires visitors (subject to certain national exceptions for nations that have special arrangements based on historical ties) to obtain a Schengen visa to travel freely within Europe’s Schengen zone.

Taken at face value this should have meant easier travel to Europe for Caribbean citizens wishing to travel to more than one country.

However, because such visas are administered by EU nations on a national basis related to a visitor’s first point of entry into Europe the process is slow and increasingly creating resentment.

Consular presence

This is because many EU states do not have resident diplomatic and consular representation in the Caribbean, a fact made worse by the fragmented nature of the region and the delays and misunderstandings that occur when an application has to be made from one country to another that can be hundreds of miles distant.

As a consequence the Schengen visa has become for some an impediment to travel, especially if this has to take place at short notice.

A week or so ago this was well illustrated by the problems surrounding the decision to change the timing of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association’s national junior championships.

These it seems will have to be held later because of logistical problems for athletes who will qualify for the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland in July.

According to sports officials those atheletes travelling to Poland from Jamaica will require a Schengen visa.

However, because there is no Polish embassy in Jamaica to issue a Polish Schengen visa it will be necessary to send the visa applications and passports to the Polish Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, for processing.

This could take around four weeks thereby throwing into doubt the athletes ability to compete in other inter regional competitions for which they need their passports.

In finding uncertainty in Europe’s visa regime, Jamaica’s athletes are not alone.

Business travel

There is a growing sense of resentment among some of the region’s most senior businessmen who see the whole process of applying for a Schengen visas insulting, time consuming and totally at odds with Europe’s desire to deepen investment and trade ties.

In recent months I have come across several examples of some of the region’s most significant entrepreneurs from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad who have been incandescent with anger about the manner in which they have been treated when seeking a Schengen visa.

Despite the fact that they have large investments in Europe, homes there or are delivering major EU projects, they have to send their passports away with supporting documentation about everything from their financial status, emergency medical insurance to evidence of where they will be staying.

	People culd be without their passport for up to three weeks while visas are processed in New York or Caracas

Although they would not say so publicly in private they see this as deeply insulting and note that their European counterparts do not have to do the same to enter the Caribbean.

Passport wait

For them applying for a Schengen visa has involved sending this documentation plus their passport to the Embassy or consulate of the EU nation they wish to enter first, even if that consul is in New York or Caracas during which time they are without their passport for up to three weeks at a time.

This they note in a region in which daily business travel to other islands is the norm.

To make matters worse they may have their applications rejected despite their economic status in their home nation and then have to resort to requesting the intervention of one or another EU Ambassador or High Commissioner.

It is an approach guaranteed to win no friends and to cause such individuals to seek opportunity elsewhere.

The issue is also difficult when a visa to enter Europe is required in a hurry such as a medical emergency for a close relative or a death in the family.

So much so that in the case of Jamaicans wishing to travel to the United Kingdom under such circumstances the issue has become a sensitive and political one between the two nations.

No one would argue with the needs of national security or the importance of having a coherent immigration policy.

However, the difference between the principles agreed in the EPA to facilitate trade and cultural exchange and the bureaucratic reality of being able to make use of the facility needs to be addressed.

In a region like the Caribbean where frequent inter-island travel, is the norm and passports are a daily requirement it ought to be possible for Europe to establish a better arrangement for obtaining a Schengen visa and for making more readily available visas as that cover multiple entry over a much longer period for those who can meet agreed criteria.

David Jessop is the Director of the Caribbean Council and can be contacted at david.jessop@caribbean-council.org

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