Recital (14)

Where the suspension mechanism is triggered on the grounds that a visa-exempt third country with which a visa liberalisation dialogue has been successfully concluded has not complied with the specific requirements on external relations or fundamental rights which were used to assess the appropriateness of granting its nationals a visa exemption or on the grounds that there has been a deterioration in the Union’s external relations with that visa-exempt third country, the Commission should favour a targeted approach. Under such an approach, the Commission should apply the suspension first and foremost to individuals holding positions of responsibility, such as members of that third country’s official delegations, members of that third country’s local, regional and national governments, members of that third country’s parliaments or high-ranking public or military officials of that third country, thereby minimising adverse consequences for the general population of that third country. The Commission should continuously monitor whether the triggering of the suspension mechanism has achieved the intended result and regularly report thereon to the European Parliament and to the Council.