Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2010)358 - Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2010)358 - Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when ... |
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| source | COM(2010)358  |
| date | 05-07-2010 |
In accordance with Article 62 i (b) (i) of the Treaty Establishing the European Community, the Council has adopted Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 i listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders (the so-called negative list) and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (the so-called positive list). Article 61 of the EC Treaty cited those lists among the flanking measures which are directly linked to the free movement of persons in an area of freedom, security and justice.
The determination of those third countries or territories whose citizens are subject to the visa requirement, and those exempt from it, is governed by a considered, case-by-case assessment of a variety of criteria relating inter alia to illegal immigration, public policy and security, and to the European Union's external relations with third countries or territories, consideration also being given to the implications of regional coherence and reciprocity. In view of the criteria of public order and illegal immigration, particular attention should be paid also to the security of travel documents issued by the third countries or territories concerned.
As the criteria set out in Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 can evolve over time in relation to third countries or territories, the composition of the negative and positive lists should be reviewed regularly. The Action Plan to combat illegal immigration and trafficking of human beings adopted by the European Union in 2002 at the Seville European Council also highlighted for the first time the need to review annually the two lists of third countries and territories annexed to the Regulation.
Hence, since its adoption, Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 has been amended six times i, most recently with regard to the outcome of the visa liberalisation dialogues by transferring three Western-Balkan countries to the positive list. Slightly more than two years after the adoption of Council Regulation (EC) No 1932/2006 i, the lists annexed to Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 need to be reassessed in general in the light of the relevant, above mentioned criteria defined in the Regulation.
The present periodical review of the Regulation aims at:
ensuring that the composition of the lists of third countries and territories complies with the criteria set out in recital 5 of the Regulation, in particular as regards the illegal immigration and public policy criteria and the external relations criterion, and transferring countries from one annex to another as appropriate;
ensuring that, in accordance with Article 77 i (a) of the TFEU, the Regulation determines exhaustively whether a third-country or territory citizen is to be subject to or exempt from the visa requirement.
A further proposal amending Regulation 539/2001 may be presented by the Commission at the appropriate moment in order to integrate possible results of the ongoing visa dialogues with Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In line with the approach followed in view of earlier changes to Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, for the purposes of the periodic review the Commission has questioned the Member States to check whether the annexes to the Regulation as they stand still correspond to the criteria determined by the Regulation. Member States made no suggestions to transfer third countries or territories from the positive to the negative list. The Commission only received suggestions for transfers from the negative to the positive list (Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau). The information transmitted by the Member States (the Commission received 25 replies) has been analysed, together with other information and statistics supplied under the CIREFI. On the basis of the analysis, the Commission has come to the following conclusions.
Taiwan is characterised by a high per capita income (US$ 30,100) and political stability (4th Presidential direct election held in March 2008 since the lifting of martial law in 1987). Despite the fact that the EU does not recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state and has no diplomatic or formal relations with Taiwan, the EU has developed regular contacts and cooperation in economic, trade, research, science and technology, education and culture as well as environmental issues with the Taiwanese authorities. As a result, the EU is the largest foreign investor in Taiwan.
As regards the political aspects, the discussions within the relevant political groups in the Council during March 2009 gave a clear political signal of the EU's support for Taiwan's request to grant visa free travel to its citizens in the next revision of the Regulation. It has been considered that Taiwan's transfer to the positive list would have a positive economic impact on EU-Taiwanese relations, as Taiwan is a major trading partner of the EU (the 19th largest trade partner). Currently the EU is an important destination of Taiwanese citizens travelling overseas. The United Kingdom also granted visa-free travel to Taiwan in March 2009 and Ireland in July 2009.
Transferring Taiwan to the positive list would reinforce regional coherence as the EU grants visa free regime to other countries and entities of the region having a similar level of economic development, such as Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
As regards migration, the risk of illegal immigration from Taiwan is very low (45 persons staying illegally on average per year for the period of 2006-2008), as also confirmed by the refusal rate at the border (38 persons on average per year for the period of 2006-2008) and the visa refusal rate (0,25 % in 2008). On that basis, imposing a visa requirement on the nationals of Taiwan is no longer justified.
Concerning document security, Taiwan adopted measures ensuring highly secured ID cards and introduced a new, more secure passport recently. As from the end of 2008, Taiwan issues biometric passports and carries out an improved personalisation process for issuance of the new passports.
In their replies to the Commission questionnaire in view of the regular revision of the Regulation, ten Member States explicitly proposed Taiwan to be transferred to the positive list.
Any visa waiver granted to the citizens of Taiwan should be reciprocated by Taiwan. On this issue Taiwan has expressed the political will to grant a full visa free regime for all EU citizens and has progressively eliminated the visa requirement for nationals of a large majority of EU Member States; currently a visa is still required for citizens of Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria, although by official letter, Taiwan has clearly indicated its commitment to offer full visa waiver regime for the nationals of these three Member States as well during 2010.
The Commission analysed the available information, including CIREFI statistics, gathered on each third country or territory proposed by Member States. Particular attention was paid also to the countries' or territories' level of economic and social development, the risk of illegal immigration to the EU linked to it, to the external relations and the criteria of regional coherence.
The Commission came to the conclusion that other third countries or territories, whose transfer to the positive list had been suggested only by one or in a few cases by two Member States, are not considered at this stage to fulfil the criteria set out by Regulation (EC) No 539/2001. Other third countries or territories could be subject to a future amendment of Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 in the light of the progress they will reach in various areas and the fulfilment of the criteria set out by the Regulation.
Member States drew the attention to the status of the Northern Mariana Islands and suggested it to be removed from Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 539/2001.
The Northern Mariana Islands are a commonwealth in political union with the United States of America, and the head of the state of Northern Mariana is the president of the United States. The territory is represented in the US House of Representatives. In general, United States federal law applies to the country. The Northern Mariana Islands have similar status to that of Guam or Puerto Rico. The citizens of the Islands have US passports.
Following from the above information, the reference to the Northern Mariana Islands should be deleted from Annex I. This will entail that the citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands, as US nationals, enjoy visa-free travel.
Member States were consulted.
Not necessary.
In view of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), this proposal constitutes a development of the common visa policy in accordance with Article 77 i (a) of the TFEU.
6. Proportionality and subsidiarity principles :
Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 lists the third countries and territories whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders (the negative list) and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (the positive list).
The decision to change the lists, to transfer countries from the negative to the positive list or vice versa falls within the exclusive competence of the EC in accordance with Article 77 i (a) of the TFEU.
Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 is to be amended by a Regulation.
Contents
The proposed amendment has no implication on the EU budget.