EU mobility regimes and visa policy towards ENP countries

Abstract

The paper compares the instruments which enhance the mobility of ENP Mediterranean and Eastern citizens, by distinguishing between visa cooperation and legal migration matters. Our analysis would suggest that cooperation in the field of legal migration, and especially social security rights, is more developed with Mediterranean Partners than with Eastern ones. This can be explained by the fact that the Association Agreements concluded with Mediterranean states are a more fruitful framework for cooperation than the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements concluded with Eastern partners. As far as visa cooperation is concerned, it is, conversely, more developed with Eastern Partners. It appears that the instruments tailored in the context of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice are more appropriate to favouring the short stay of ENP nationals in the EU, to the Association Agreements. In any case, at this point, the opportunities provided by these instruments have not been fully exploited and cooperation levels remain weak.