CONSULASSIST

ended

As of the Work Programme of the EU Network of Immigration Liaison Officers (ILO) 2020-2021, this action aims at providing assistance and support to consular authorities: to tackle documentary fraud issues related to visa applications and detection of forged documents (registers of births, marriages etc.). Two geographical areas with specific issues have been identified for this project: China and neighbouring countries, and Ukraine. The main activities planned for this project are the training of the ILOs deployed in East Asia: China and its neighbouring countries, Ukraine; the information sharing with the foreign affairs partners posted in EU consulates on documentary fraud; profiling; and corruption prevention. This project mainly targets visa services and EU consulates, in particular Schengen visa application services: heads of departments, instructors and employees under local law in consulates. Some EU consulates already operate in confidence with their national ILOs, hence the objective of this project is to develop strong interaction with other EU representations in the country that do not have an ILO, and to meet the diplomatic posts that are not physically covered by an ILO, to establish a link and facilitate information exchange and interaction about the growing challenges of document fraud. It should also allow to structure and streamline the interaction of EU immigration/airport liaison officers in order to get a balanced relationship with local authorities. In both regions, the action aims at spreading knowledge about visa application fraud and explaining the ins and outs of fraudulent documents issuing. Hence, this activity leans on raising awareness among local authorities and EU agents as the spearhead of the struggle against forged documents. The ILOs deployed are expected to draw attention on the trickiest parts of visa fraud. Thus, such assistance aims at fostering the development of a breeding ground for a relevant EU operational cooperation.