The Commission should assess, on a case-by-case basis, the thresholds for triggering the suspension mechanism in the event of a substantial increase in the number of nationals of a visa-exempt third country refused entry to the Member State’s territory or found to be staying in the Member State’s territory without a right to do so, in the number of asylum applications from the nationals of a visa-exempt third country for which the recognition rate is low or in the number of serious criminal offences linked to the nationals of a visa-exempt third country. In particular, the Commission should be able to assess whether, in the cases notified by Member States or on the basis of its own analysis, there are specific circumstances which would justify the application of lower or higher thresholds than those indicated in the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. In its assessment, the Commission should take into account, inter alia, the number of unauthorised crossings of the external borders of the Member States, the number of unfounded asylum applications or the number of criminal offences linked to the nationals of a visa-exempt third country in proportion to the number and size of Member States affected and the impact of those numbers on the overall migratory situation, the functioning of asylum systems or the internal security of the Member States affected. The Commission should also take into account actions taken by the third country concerned to remedy the situation. The Commission should thoroughly assess the necessity, proportionality and consequences of a suspension of the visa exemption before adopting the relevant legal act.
Text as published in the Official Journal, reproduced verbatim (including any typographical quirks of the source). For the authentic version, see EUR-Lex.
