'Discriminatory' EU visa policy is hurting bloc's image in Africa

'Discriminatory' EU visa policy is hurting bloc's image in Africa

The EU’s visa policy — and particularly its high rejection rate of applications from African countries — is "discriminatory" and causing “considerable damage to the EU’s image among Africa’s intellectual, cultural and business elites,” according to new research.

The Schengen visa policies of the European Union (EU) are increasingly perceived as discriminating against Africa, which undermines the EU's reputation on the continent.A recent study by the Centre for European Reform (CER) warns about this situation and stresses that the current Schengen visa rules do not favour relations between the EU and Africa.On the contrary, they hinder economic and social opportunities and reinforce a closing image that …