The Council of the European Union has adopted an implementing decision to repeal the suspension of certain provisions of the EU Visa Code in respect of Ethiopia, following a notification from Liechtenstein received on 10 July 2026. The repeal, formalised in a Council Implementing Decision dated 13 July 2026, lifts the restrictive measures that had been in place since 2024, restoring the normal application of the Visa Code for Ethiopian applicants across all EU member states and associated Schengen states.
The original suspension, enacted through Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341, had temporarily suspended specific provisions of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (the Visa Code) for Ethiopia. That decision applied to all member states bound by the Visa Code, including Liechtenstein as an associated state. The notification from Liechtenstein, which triggered the repeal, indicates that the conditions that led to the original suspension are no longer considered to warrant continued derogation.
With the repeal, Ethiopian nationals applying for short-stay Schengen visas will again be subject to the standard rules and procedures of the Visa Code, including uniform processing times, fee structures, and documentation requirements. The decision takes effect upon its adoption, and member states are expected to adjust their consular practices accordingly.
The move has direct implications for Ethiopian travellers, who will no longer face the stricter conditions imposed under the suspension. For EU member states and associated states, the repeal simplifies visa processing by removing the need for special handling of Ethiopian applications. The decision also signals a normalisation of bilateral relations between the EU and Ethiopia in the visa domain.
No further institutional follow-up is required, as the repeal is a final administrative act by the Council. The European Commission and the European Parliament were informed of the decision as part of the standard procedure.