Indonesia hopes EU visa cascade policy effective July-end

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the European Union's visa cascade policy for Indonesian nationals applying for multi-entry Schengen visas will be implemented by the end of July this year.

The visa cascade policy is one of the concrete results of President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Brussels, Belgium, on July 12—13, according to the ministry's press statement received here, Monday.

The benefits of this visa policy could be directly felt by Indonesians, especially those who frequently travel to EU countries, the ministry's spokesperson, Rolliansyah "Roy" Soemirat, was quoted as saying.

This policy will enable Indonesians to travel more easily to Europe for business, investment, education, or simply to build and strengthen networks, he remarked.

Indonesians traveling to Europe are expected to bring tangible benefits to the EU countries they visit, he remarked.

To this end, Soemirat expressed hope for sound cooperation from the embassies of the EU countries in Indonesia in responding to applications from Indonesian passport holders for multi-entry Schengen visas.

The visa cascade policy was officially announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her meeting with President Prabowo at the Berlaymont, Brussels, on July 13.

"I am pleased to announce that the European Commission has adopted a decision on the visa cascade. It means that from now on, Indonesian nationals visiting the EU for a second time will be eligible for multi-entry Schengen visas," she remarked.

"This will make it easier to visit, invest, study, and connect. In short, we are building a bridge between our societies," von der Leyen remarked.