24/05/2010
Al-Ahram Al-Ektsady Magazine 2010/MAY /24
Businessmen launched a fierce war against EU countries due to arbitrary measures and inflexibility adopted when granting a Schengan visa. Businessmen called for reciprocity and are looking for alternative markets in Eastern Europe and Asia. Others totally rejected adopting a hardline stance that might affect the tourism sector in Egypt. Many Egyptian scientists and experts miss many research and scientific conferences due to stubbornness in granting visas.(Available in Arabic – German in PDF )
The EU signed several partnership and investment agreements at the same time as adopting hardline measures. The EU was delivering a message that Egyptian business associations are in dire need of the EU. Mohamed Farid Khamis said that EU procedures need to be changed to maintain economic relations with the EU and protect the rights of Egyptian businessmen. The Egyptian political regime insists on maintaining its relations with the West, however, it is not a reasonable justification for Egyptian citizens to stand for long hours in front of EU embassies to acquire visas. Dr Nader Riad stressed that Egypt will lose too much if trade is suspended with the EU. Most problems of Egyptians and Arabs in EU countries are related to losing their credibility. Criticisms from many countries encouraged the EU to facilitate and simplify the procedures for granting Schengen visas for short visits, while at the same time; the EU did not cancel the Schengen blacklist.