European ambassadors have been told they must improve the way their embassies process visa applications, reports Doaa El-Bey European Union ambassadors summoned to the Foreign Ministry last week were told that their consular sections' treatment of Egyptians applying for visas was unacceptable. Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed El-Quweisni told Al-Ahram Weekly that the meeting was a success. The European officials, he said, had taken on board the complaint, and Egypt had made its point: "Whether or not they grant applicants a visa, and that is a matter related to sovereignty, our citizens have the right to be treated in a decent manner." El-Quweisni, who heads the Department for Consulates and Egyptian Expatriates, the Foreign Ministry section responsible for Egyptians living abroad, said that he did not expect the Europeans to change their rules but apply them fairly and politely. The Foreign Ministry has received an unprecedented number of complaints from applicants who say embassies apply visa rules arbitrarily, often failing to state clearly what documents are necessary to accompany applications. They also charge that consular staff, many of whom are Egyptian nationals, treat applicants rudely. "One of the points we made is that there should be clear guidelines to employees, whether they are Egyptian or not, on how they treat applicants. They should help them, clearly specifying the documents necessary for an application," said El-Quweisni. The meeting with European ambassadors came a week after the Egyptian government had sent European consulates a memorandum on the issue. It included criticisms of the performance of these missions and their employees, charging that they sometimes resort to evasion and ambiguity when it comes to detailing what applicants must submit, and often process applications in an incompetent manner. The memo also pointed out that Egyptians have to pay a non refundable fee in order to apply for visas. While it did not identify individual missions the ministry said it had received large numbers of complaints from those applying for the Schengen visa. Most Europeans can obtain a visa minutes after arriving in Egypt. Egypt expects similar treatment. Egyptians seeking visas to European countries, however, often have to present stacks of documents and wait for weeks. And even after the long wait they face the prospect of their application being rejected without any reason being given. European governments have legitimate reasons to worry about illegal immigration. Millions of people live and work in Europe in violation of immigration laws. Egypt, though, pointed out that many of the mistreated applicants are unlikely to overstay their visas. They include old people, travelling businessmen and even children. Although some non-European and Arab states' embassies have also been the subject of complaints the memo included European states because they are the ones about which the ministry receives the most complaints. El-Quweisni said he would not hesitate to issue similar memos should they receive sufficient complaints about other embassies. The Foreign Ministry has often been accused of failing to protect the interests of Egyptians living and working abroad.
