08:08 | Strasbourg, Feb. 27.
The European Parliament (EP) on Thursday voted to allow visa-free travel for Peruvian citizens to countries in the Shengen Area in Europe.
This came during a meeting held today in Strasbourg with a majority vote of 523 out of 577 EU representatives.
The decision means Peruvians will no longer require a visa for short stays (up to 90 days) in the Schengen area, whether for business, tourist or family visit purposes.
Peru, along with Colombia, was voted on the Schengen visa-free list by the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) earlier this month before final approval by the European Parliament today.
The elimination of the visa requirement for Colombians and Peruvians to visit the Schengen Area was proposed last August by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
The Schengen Area comprises 22 of the 28 countries of the European Union: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Greece, along with non-members Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
(END) EEP/EEP
Published: 2/27/2014