Long-term visa holders from a European Union country part of the bloc's Schengen area will be able to travel to other countries within the system from April 5, the European Parliament ruled today, approving changes already agreed by EU interior ministers, dpa reported. Under present rules, third country nationals who have been given a long-stay type 'D' Schengen visa are not allowed to travel to other member states during their stay, nor pass through them when returning to their country of origin. For instance, a United States student attending a course in Belgium cannot visit a specialized library in the Netherlands, or spend a weekend in Barcelona, Spain. "This is an example of how absurd situations can arise," said Carlos Coelho, a Portuguese deputy who drafted the report approved by the European assembly in Strasbourg. The 25-member Schengen area includes most EU countries, plus Switzerland, Norway and Ireland. Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus are excluded but are expected to join in the future, while Britain and Ireland enjoy a permanent derogation. Denmark is also out, but has the choice of taking part in Schengen rules on a case-by-case basis. The country has six-months' time from the time the new long-term visa regulations enter into force to decide whether it wants to apply them or not. The changes will allow foreigners to stay in another EU country for up to three months in any half year, giving them the same rights as people holding a residence permit. But their long-stay visas cannot last for more than one year. People wishing to stay in a Schengen country for longer will be expected to obtain a residence permit.
