The European Commission has designated more powers to member states to issue emergency travel documents when EU citizens lose or have identity travel documents stolen in third-countries.
This step will make emergency documents more accessible by 2023, as the European Commission has enforced the proposed changes must be legislated in the next two years.
Member states will also be guided by the changes to issue documents by the end of 2025.
As schengenvisa reports, embassies of Member states have been able to issue emergency travel documents for 26 years however some opted out of the scheme due to security standards.
Under the new revisions of the scheme, one-time documents must have the equivalent secure design and must be used within 15 days of being obtained aside from an extra two day grace period.
Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice, commented: “The EU Emergency Travel Document will offer EU citizens a secure and reliable way of returning home should they lose their passport while travelling abroad. As the repatriations during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown, enjoying the full right to consular protection is an important aspect of what it means to be an EU citizen”.
