By ZAGAZOLA MAKAMA

The European Union (EU) generated approximately ?56 million from visa application fees paid by Africans whose requests were ultimately rejected in 2023, a new report has revealed.

The amount, which represents 43 per cent of all revenues from rejected Schengen visa applications globally, has sparked criticism over what analysts describe as a growing intercontinental economic imbalance.

According to the report, the funds were collected from thousands of African citizens who paid mandatory non-refundable visa fees, despite the high rejection rates for applicants from the continent.

The practice raises ethical questions, especially as the EU continues to position itself as a development partner committed to supporting Africa through humanitarian and infrastructure assistance.

In 2024, the EU announced various support initiatives to African countries, including a ?5.4 million humanitarian aid package to mitigate the effects of devastating floods in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions.

Critics argue that such aid could be offset by the high revenue the EU earns from rejected visa applications, suggesting that funds Africans pay in pursuit of travel opportunities are indirectly recycled back to the continent in the form of conditional support.

?This is one of the most profitable intercontinental business models in modern times,? an international relations analyst said. Africans are essentially paying into a system that systematically denies them access, only for a portion of that money to return as aid often with strings attached.?

Analysts are calling for greater transparency in visa processing and a review of current fee structures, especially for countries facing high rejection rates.

They also stress the need for African governments to push for fairer migration policies and reinvest in local opportunities to reduce the economic burden on citizens seeking to travel abroad.

The European Commission has not yet responded to growing concerns over the report, but EU officials have previously stated that visa fees are necessary to cover administrative costs and maintain the integrity of the Schengen area.

The visa application fee for a short-stay Schengen visa currently stands at ?80 per applicant, non-refundable regardless of the outcome. (Zagazola)

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