Many benefits of an efficient visa system
Although Finland and Croatia may not be close in proximity, they share many things in common such as the extensive external borders of the EU and high volumes of visa applications. Efficient visa processing and border control is of vital importance for Croatia as the newest member of the European Union and as Croatia prepares for Schengen membership.
Finland and Croatia are working together in a new project that will help Croatia further align its national visa system with the EU visa system. The project was officially presented to the public at an event on 10 October 2013 by Andrea Metelko Zgombić, Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia and by project leaders Päivi Blinnikka, Head of Unit for Passports and Visas at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Maja Teider, Head of the Division for Visas at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia.
With EU membership, Croatia experienced a sharp increase in the number of visa applications. By the end of September 2013, there were 105,148 visa requests, compared to 18,372 requests in 2012. It is estimated that Croatia will issue between 140,000-150,000 visas annually. In comparison, Finland issued 1.450,000 visas last year, mostly to citizens of Russia. Finland’s Consulate General in St. Petersburg is one of the largest visa centers for Schengen visas.
Due to its significant and extensive experience in issuing Schengen visas to third country nationals, Finland was chosen to implement this project in Croatia. One of the objectives is to further harmonize Croatia’s visa legislation with the EU Acquis. In addition, through technical assistance and training, staff at Croatia’s Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts will learn more about streamlining visa procedures, be able to detect falsified and counterfeit documents, and process EU visa applications according to Schengen standards and regulations, with special emphasis on creating efficient procedures that reduce visa processing time. This will facilitate work at Diplomatic Missions that issue the most visas such as the Croatian Embassies in Moscow, Kiev, Istanbul and Priština.
In the long-term, this project assists Croatia in its efforts for Schengen membership and common visa policy towards third countries. Improved visa procedures and capacities to detect falsified documents will also be a tool to help prevent organized crime and illegal immigration. Visas do not need to be deterrents. An efficient system also reduces the visa processing time and ultimately increases the attractiveness of Croatia as a tourist destination.
Over the past 20 years, Finnish experts have worked together with Croatian partners on 15 Twinning projects in Croatia ranging from anti-corruption, statistics, maritime surveillance system, air quality, nursing and now support to the national visa system. In addition to sharing technical assistance and know-how, this practical cooperation contributes to deepening professional relations between experts from Finland and Croatia.
“Support to the National Visa System” is a Twinning Light Project between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, worth 250,000 EUR and funded by the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA). The project is implemented by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior of Croatia, the General Inspectorate of the Border Police of Romania, the National Bureau of Investigation of Police of Finland and Border Guard of Finland. It is also part of a larger EU-funded project worth 1.340,000 EUR that includes a component for procurement of modern detection devices for Croatian Embassies and optic readers and finger print devices for border crossings in Croatia and the external EU border.
Twinning is an instrument launched by the European Commission in 1998. It is envisaged as an administrative cooperation related to provision of assistance to beneficiary countries in the process of strengthening administrative and judiciary capacities for the purpose of implementation of the Acquis of the European Union. The primary objective of Twinning projects is providing assistance to beneficiary countries in the establishment of modern and efficient administration by focusing on structure, human resources and management skills required for harmonization of national legislation with the Acquis of the European Union.
More information:
Project leaflet: Support to the National Visa System (Opens New Window)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)
European Commission Representation in Croatia (Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)