The European Commission–DG Home Affairs is revising the EU visa code and has opened a public online consultation to improve the procedures for obtaining short-stay Schengen visas.  Artists and culture professionals from inside or outside the EU are invited to contribute their experiences.

Deadline for the public consultation: June 17, 2013

On the Move (OTM), the European-based cultural mobility information network, has prepared a short background report on the consultation process, noting that this is strategic moment for the cultural sector in Europe and beyond to make its voice heard and let the EU policy-makers know about the specific needs of artists and culture professionals regarding mobility and Schengen visas (procedures, duration, information etc.): http://on-the-move.org/news/article/15459/artists-mobility-and-schengen-visas/.

OTM highly recommends organisations and individuals to reply to the online public consultation launched by DG Home (deadline: 17 June) and to encourage their professional networks to answer as well.

The public consultation information is available in several languages.

The IFACCA board has noted that as members have frequently expressed their concerns about the barriers to international mobility of artists created by visa regulations, IFACCA would welcome any initiatives to lower these barriers or enter into dialogue about these issues.