Ecuadorian president pleads for Schengen visa waiver at EU-CELAC summit

Ecuadorian President, Guillermo Lasso, intends to appeal for the discontinuation of the Schengen visa requirement for Ecuadorian citizens during the Third EU-CELAC Summit held in Brussels, Belgium.

The Schengen visa is necessary for short-term stays across 27 European nations.

Lasso, in office since May 2021, and his administration have been diplomatically working towards this goal for several months.

The visa exemption has been in place for citizens of neighboring nations, Colombia and Peru, since 2016.

Lasso revealed his efforts to gain backing from European Union members for Ecuador’s cause.

As part of his advocacy, he met with Roberta Metsola, the European Parliament’s president, and Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, along with other officials.

He anticipates further discussions with King Philippe of Belgium, expressing his commitment to create consensus for Ecuador’s request.

Lasso acknowledged past challenges, including a stalled proposal from the European Parliament for visa exemption due to an alleged corruption scandal.

Nonetheless, he remains hopeful for the successful processing of Ecuador’s appeal.

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