Ecuador’s President, Guillermo Lasso, asked Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to lift the Schengen visa rule for Ecuadorians.
Lasso took to social media to share details of his chat with Sánchez. He wants Spain to push the EU to discuss this visa waiver.
Ecuador has made good progress on global security norms, such as biometric passports.
Lasso thinks this move will increase tourism and help an existing trade deal. The deal has been in place since January 2017.
Sánchez reacted positively, saying he would add it to the agenda. Lasso has been in office since May 2021.
He’s been pushing for this change for a while now. Colombia and Peru, Ecuador’s neighbors, have had visa-free EU access since 2016.
The Schengen visa allows travel across 27 European countries. It’s named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement, started in a small village in Luxembourg.
This accord removed border checks between European nations. The goal was to make travel easier within Europe.
Over time, many countries adopted the visa policy. Yet, some nations still require a visa for short visits.
Background
Ecuador has desired a waiver for its citizens for years. Colombia and Peru got this privilege back in 2016.
The exemption opened new opportunities for them. It increased tourism and strengthened trade ties. Ecuador hopes to gain similar benefits.
Biometric passports have been one step towards this goal. These passports have better security features.
They store critical information on a small chip.
Spain holds influence within the EU’s decision-making bodies. So, Lasso reached out to Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez.
Spain can play a key role in lifting the visa requirement. Lasso believes that this move aligns with EU interests too.
Ecuador seeks a Schengen Visa Waiver through Spain. It could boost tourism and further activate the 2017 trade deal.
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