Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NASSAU335
2009-05-26 22:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:  

BAHAMAS TO SIGN SCHENGEN VISA WAIVER AGREEMENT

Tags:  ECON PREL CVIS PGOV BF 
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VZCZCXRO3326
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHBH #0335 1462217
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 262217Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6401
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS NASSAU 000335 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PREL CVIS PGOV BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS TO SIGN SCHENGEN VISA WAIVER AGREEMENT

UNCLAS NASSAU 000335

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PREL CVIS PGOV BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS TO SIGN SCHENGEN VISA WAIVER AGREEMENT


1. (U) The Bahamas will sign a Schengen Visa Waiver
Agreement on June 1 during the European Union-African,
Caribbean, Pacific State (EU-ACP) meeting in Brussels. The
agreement allows visa-free travel for Bahamian citizens
to 24 European countries party to the Schengen agreement.
Governor General Arthur Hanna announced news of the
agreement while accepting credentials from the newly
appointed French Ambassador to The Bahamas on May 21.
Hanna praised the EU for pushing the agreement forward.


2. (U) A Schengen Visa Waiver Agreement has been a priority
issue for The Bahamas for some time. There are no
EU diplomatic missions in The Bahamas and Bahamians must
travel to third countries to apply for Schengen visas
or incur expensive costs of sending visa documents to and
from a third country. This agreement will make EU
travel much easier for Bahamian citizens, many of whom view
the visa process as a deterrent to travel. The
Bahamas has recently seen an increase in activity with the
EU, including signing an Economic Partnership
Agreement in October 2008 and an increase in direct flights
to and from European destinations. It is likely
that Bahamian travel to the EU will increase as a result of
this agreement.
ZUNIGA-BROWN