Malta's 'solution' worries Brussels
Proposal to be formalised on Monday
The European Commission is not happy with Malta's decision to issue Malta-only visas to Libyan nationals as a solution to the impasse in the diplomatic row between Libya and Switzerland.
Though he avoided commenting on the Maltese proposal directly, a Commission spokesman said Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström was opposed to "any proposition or initiative that would in effect call into question the very notion of solidarity between the countries that apply the Schengen rules".
Pressed to comment directly on Malta's proposal, the Commission's spokesman said that "the Commission does not comment on proposals made by ministers of member states". However, he specified that the Schengen rules were clear and must be respected by all.
The Schengen agreement allows passport-free travel between 26 European countries, including some non-EU states. It also allows a member of the area to deny individuals access to the whole Shengen zone and Switzerland used this power to bar entry to 188 Libyan officials, including leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family. Libya retaliated and stopped issuing entry visas to citizens of most European countries.
After several failed EU mediation attempts, Malta on Tuesday announced it would be issuing Malta-only visas to Libyan citizens. It also encouraged other Mediterranean states with commercial ties to the North-African state, such as Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, to follow suit.
More specifically, the government said it would use new rules entering into force on April 5, which allow so-called limited territorial validity (LTV) visas.
Malta is expected to formalise its proposal at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers scheduled to be held in Brussels on Monday.
If all Schengen countries from the EU agree to Malta's request, the Swiss visa ban would become practically worthless because blacklisted Libyans would be allowed to travel in almost all of Europe.
Meanwhile, following Malta's unilateral announcement, the Commission piled pressure on Switzerland. The Commission's spokesman confirmed that Ms Malmström yesterday called Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf urging her "to act rapidly to put an end to this bilateral controversy that risks undermining the overall coherence of the Schengen system".
Foreign Affairs Ministry sources said it was estimated that about 500 Maltese who travel regularly to Libya were affected by the ban.