EU PLANS TO LIFT VISA REQUIREMENT FOR 10 PACIFIC NATIONS
The European Union flag. Photo credit: EU.
The European Union Ambassador for the Pacific says a plan to lift visa requirements for travellers from 10 Pacific nations will be negotiated with each country before it comes into effect.
The EU has amended a regulation, which means nationals from Solomon Islands will not need a visa when entering the Schengen Zone.
Other countries in this arrangement include Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Andrew Jacobs says Fiji and Papua New Guinea have been left off the list because the EU wanted to focus on smaller Pacific nations first, and then consider larger countries.
He says negotiations for bilateral agreements still need to take place.
The European Union member states have agreed to lifting visa requirements, but this needs to be negotiated on a country-by-country basis.