Idrisov & EU discuss simplification of visa system

    During his visit to Brussels, Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov held separate bilateral talks with Linus Linkevičius, foreign affairs minister of Lithuania (which holds the EU presidency, and the European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs.
    As part of these meetings the two sides reviewed the EU promotion program for Central Asia, the various aspects of political and economic cooperation, expanded access of Kazakh airlines to European airspace as well as the simplification of the visa regime for the citizens of Kazakhstan.
    Idrissov called on the European Commission to provide maximum assistance to the negotiations between the MFA and the structures of the EU on visa issues.
    "This is one of the most important topics. Upon receipt of a Schengen visa at certain European embassies, our citizens often face complex multi-level testing procedures. We would like to have more active cooperation of the institutions of the united Europe in this matter," said the MFA Head, according to Kazinform.