Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2018)252 - Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2018)252 - Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code). |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2018)252  |
| date | 14-03-2018 |
1. CONTEXTOFTHEPROPOSAL
• Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
The Visa Code is a core element of the common visa policy: it establishes harmonised procedures and conditions for processing visa applications and issuing visas. It entered into force on 5 April 2010, with the overarching objectives of facilitating legitimate travel and tackling irregular immigration, enhancing transparency and legal certainty, strengthening procedural guarantees and reinforcing equal treatment of visa applicants.
The Visa Code required the Commission to submit to the European Parliament and the Council an evaluation of its implementation two years after all the provisions of the Regulation had become applicable. It presented its evaluation in a report1 and accompanying staff working document2 on 1 April 2014. On the basis of this evaluation, on the same date the Commission adopted a proposal3 for a recast of the Visa Code with the aim of enhancing travel to the EU through visa policy facilitations (thereby to contributing to tourism, trade, growth and employment in the EU) and to harmonising implementation of the common rules. However, due to divergences in the positions of the European Parliament and the Council, negotiations have not progressed. Meanwhile, greater security and migratory challenges have made it clear that the approach followed in 2014 no longer matches reality. These factors prompted the Commission to announce the withdrawal of its recast proposal in the Commission Work programme for 20184. The formal withdrawal will take place in April 2018.
While migration- and security-related objectives have become increasingly important, one should not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of visa applicants pose no security and/or migratory risk to the EU and are bringing significant benefits to the EU. Therefore, this proposal focuses on streamlining and improving operational aspects of the visa procedure and takes account of the results of negotiations on the Visa Code recast proposal. New elements have been added which were advanced in the Commission's September 2017 Communication on the Delivery of the European Agenda on Migration5 and in its consultations, such as the need for sufficient financial resources to support Member States' visa processing, clear rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas with a long period of validity and the leverage role that visa policy can exert in the EU's readmission policy.
The Commission’s proposal for the reform of the Visa Information System legal framework (to be presented in spring 2018) will further enhance the security and efficiency of the visa procedure, in particular by taking account of technological developments and harnessing them to the benefit of Member States' authorities and bona fide applicants, closing information gaps in some areas, enhancing checks on persons and speeding up the quality and outcome of the procedure.
• Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
The common visa policy is a set of harmonised rules governing:
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council : A smarter visa policy for
economic growth. COM(2014)165 final.
Council establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code). SWD (2014)101 final.
COM(2014) 164 final.
COM(2017) 650 final, 24.10.2017, Annex IV.
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– the common 'visa lists' of countries whose nationals require a visa to travel to the
EU and those that are exempt from that requirement6;
– the Visa Code establishing the procedures and conditions for issuing short-stay visas;
– the uniform format for the visa sticker7; and
– the VIS8, in which all visa applications and Member States’ decisions are recorded,
including applicants’ personal data, photographs and fingerprints.
While adding new elements, the proposed amendments, will not fundamentally alter the Visa Code, which therefore remains faithful to the existing principles for the processing of visa applications.
• Consistency with other Union policies
While maintaining security at the external borders and ensuring the smooth functioning of the Schengen area, the proposed amendments facilitate travel for legitimate travellers and simplify the legal framework in the interest of Member States, e.g. by allowing more flexible rules on consular cooperation. The common visa policy should continue to contribute to growth but should also be coherent with other EU policies on external relations, trade, education, culture and tourism.
However, the changed migration situation and increased security threat in recent years have shifted the political debate on the Schengen area, in general, and visa policy, in particular, towards a reassessment of the balance between migration and security concerns, economic considerations and general external relations. Since the 2014 evaluation was published, the Visa Code objectives of preventing irregular migration and security risks have taken on greater significance. The changed political context has meant that visa policy came into focus as a tool for achieving progress in relations with third countries, as experience with visa liberalisation had already shown.
There have thus been calls for the EU to use visa policy more effectively in the EU's cooperation with third countries, specifically in the field of migration management. The European Council of June 2017 called for ‘reassessing visa policy towards third countries, as needed’. This would allow achieving real progress in return and readmission policy while taking account of the Union’s overall relations with the third countries concerned. As the Visa Code was not designed for use as leverage towards individual third countries, but rather as a means of standardising visa issuing procedures and conditions, it is not entirely suited to the new political context. The Commission recognised this changed reality in its Communication on the Delivery of the European Agenda on Migration of September 2017, in which it stated that ‘some visa-issuing rules (for instance those related to visas with long validity and visa fees) should be reviewed to ensure that they can play a part in our readmission policy.’ Detailed options as regards legislative implementation are examined in the attached impact
assessment.9
Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas
when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement, OJ L
81, 21.3.2001, p. 1.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas, OJ L 164, 14.7.1995,
p. 1.
Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas (VIS
Regulation), OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 60.
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8
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2. LEGALBASIS, SUBSIDIARITYAND PROPORTIONALITY
• Legal basis
The legal basis for this proposal is Article 77(2)(a) of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The proposal amends Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code)10 which was based on the equivalent provisions of the Treaty establishing the European Community, i.e. Article 62(2)(a) and (b)(ii).
• Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)
Article 77(2)(a) TFEU empowers the Union to develop measures concerning ‘the common policy on visas and other short stay residence permits.’
The current proposal is within the limits set by this provision. The objective is further to develop and improve the rules of the Visa Code concerning the conditions and procedures for issuing visas for intended stays in the territory of Member States not exceeding 90 days in any 180-days period. This cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States acting alone, because only the Union can amend an existing Union Act (the Visa Code).
• Proportionality
Article 5 i of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) provides that the content and form of Union action must not exceed what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaties. The form chosen for this action must enable the proposal to achieve its objective and be implemented as effectively as possible.
The Visa Code was established in 2009 by means of a Regulation in order to ensure that it would be applied in the same way in all Member States that apply the Schengen acquis. The proposed initiative constitutes an amendment to a Regulation and must therefore also take the form of a Regulation.
As to the content, this initiative covers improvements of the existing Regulation based on the basis of the policy objectives addressed in the 2014 recast proposal. The proportionality of the three new aspects that have been added is evaluated in the attached impact assessment11; in summary:
– the proposed increase of the visa fee is proportionate as it corresponds to what would
have been the increase since 2006 (when the current level was set) based on the general EU-wide inflation rate;
– the proposed standard EU-level multiple entry visa ‘cascade’ is proportionate,
because it largely corresponds to current practice in a number of Member States and can be adapted to local circumstances in a more favourable or more restrictive manner; and
– the proposed measures to improve cooperation on the readmission of irregular
migrants are proportionate, as implementation of the general mechanism is to be adapted in a targeted, flexible and gradual approach. These do not affect the
Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and Council establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code), OJ L 243, 15.9.2009, p. 1.
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possibility for the applicant to be granted a visa, as such, but cover certain facilitations in the procedure for issuing the visa or the level of the visa fee.
Choice
of the instrument
This proposal recasts Regulation No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code). Therefore only a Regulation can be chosen as a legal instrument.
3. RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER
Contents
- consultations
- Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council : A smarter visa policy for
- Evaluation of the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and
- Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas
- Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Visa
- because it largely corresponds to current practice in a number of Member States and can be adapted to local circumstances in a more favourable or more restrictive manner; and
- migrants are proportionate, as implementation of the general mechanism is to be adapted in a targeted, flexible and gradual approach. These do not affect the
- Problem area 1: Insufficient financial resources to support visa processing
- Problem area 2: Repeated visa procedures for regular travellers
- 12 13
- Problem area 3: Insufficient levels of return of irregular migrants to some countries of origin
- the
ANDIMPACTASSESSMENTS
• Stakeholder consultations
The consultation of interested parties is covered in the impact assessment12 accompanying this proposal.
• Impact assessment
This proposal is supported by an impact assessment focusing on the three main problem areas addressed. Other elements linked either to the facilitation of visa procedures or to clarification and streamlining of existing provisions, have been carried over from the 2014 recast proposal.13 Most of them concern rather procedural matters which do not leave much room for considering different policy options and have therefore not been examined in detail in the impact assessment.
Based on available data and the results of a stakeholder and an open public consultation, the impacts of the following policy options were assessed:
– option 1A: status quo – unchanged common visa fee at EUR 60;
– option 1B: national visa fees based on administrative costs;
– option 1C: increase of common visa fee, with various sub-options: EUR 80, EUR
100, EUR 120 or a combination of EUR 80 for visas up to six months and EUR 120 for multiple entry visas of one to five years.
The preferred option is a moderate increase of the common visa fee to EUR 80. This is not the most effective option, as higher fee increases would obviously generate more financial resources. However, it will lead to a sound increase of revenues for Member States (+26%) and therefore support the integrity of visa processing and the security of the Schengen area. At the same time a moderate increase (EUR 20) will not be a deterrent for the overwhelming majority of visa applicants, for whom it will not be a decisive factor compared with the price of airline tickets to Europe and other costs involved in travel. Negative impact on travel behaviour and thus the EU tourism and travel industry will be minimal. In international comparison the fee will remain relatively low and therefore competitive.
– option 2A: status quo – Member States determine their approach to issuing multiple
entry visas with long validity;
– option 2B: recommended best practice;
SWD (2018) 77.
– option 2C: common multiple entry visa cascades with various sub-options (general
multiple entry visa cascade, general and country multiple entry visas cascades, country multiple entry visas cascades);
– option 2D: standard multiple entry visas with two- or five-year validity.
The preferred option is a ‘one-size-fits-all’ multiple entry visas cascade at EU level and the possibility of adapting the cascade to specific countries. Though not the most effective option (compared with options that would prescribe long-validity multiple entry visas as the standard visa to be issued), it will achieve to a great extent the objective of increasing the number of long-validity multiple entry visas issued. It further combines a minimum standard applicable to all third countries with the possibility of more favourable solutions for specific third countries, adapted to local circumstances and migratory risk. Due to a reduced number of visa procedures for frequent travellers, it will produce cost savings for Member States and applicants. At the same time it will enable spontaneous travel by multiple entry visa holders and thus support the competitiveness of the EU tourism industry.
– option 3A: status quo – Council toolbox approach (mechanism coordinated by
Council to apply measures related to the visa procedure to third countries not cooperating on readmission, within the limits of the existing legal framework);
– option 3B: positive incentives in visa policy;
– option 3C: negative incentives in visa policy with various sub-options (maximum
approach aiming at all passports from the start or targeted approach in two phases: diplomatic and service passports, then ordinary passports).
The preferred option is targeted negative incentives. Negative measures in the visa area are likely to be most effective in bringing change in third country governments towards cooperation with Member States on the readmission of irregular migrants, although they might need to be combined with measures in other policy areas, to be fully successful. At the same time, the flexible approach first targeting the government officials of the country concerned or the general population is the most appropriate and proportionate approach and will entail the least negative consequences for travelling, economic sectors and the EU’s standing and reputation.
In the proposal the targeted approach is maintained but rather than fixing the two-phase approach in the legal act, the text allows flexibility with regard to application of the measures in practice.
• Fundamental rights
The proposed amendments respect the fundamental rights set out in the Charter of Fundamental rights of the European Union.
4. BUDGETARYIMPLICATIONS
The proposed amendment has no implications for the EU budget.
5. OTHERELEMENTS
• Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements
As there have been no substantive changes to the Visa Code since the 2004 evaluation was published, its findings remain generally valid today. See also Annex 4 to the attached impact assessment.
The proposed amendments concern the Visa Code the implementation of which is also evaluated through the Schengen evaluation mechanism in accordance with Council Regulation (EU) No 1053/201314, without prejudice to the Commission's role as guardian of
Treaties (Article 17(1) TEU).
• Consequences of the various protocols annexed to the Treaties and of the association agreements concluded with third countries
Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council15 establishes the procedures and conditions for issuing visas for intended stays on the territory of Member States not exceeding 90 days in any 180 days period.
Because the legal basis for this proposal is to be found in Title V of Part Three of the TFEU, the system of ‘variable geometry’, as provided for in the protocols on the position of the Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom and the Schengen protocol, applies. The proposal builds on the Schengen acquis. The consequences for the various protocols and Schengen association agreements therefore have to be considered with regard to Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom, Iceland and Norway; and Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Likewise, the consequences for the various Acts of Accessions must be considered. The detailed situation of each of the States concerned is set out in recitals 18-26 of this proposal.
• Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal
Article 1 – Subject matter and scope
– Paragraph (1) horizontal change: throughout the text the reference to 'transit' as a
travel purpose has been deleted because the artificial distinction between transit and stay (transit implies a stay) is abandoned (and the specific transit visa was abolished in the Visa Code, adopted in 2009).
Article 2 – Definitions
– Paragraph 2, point (a): see explanation under Article 1(1).
– Paragraph 7: a reference to appropriate legal basis (Decision No 1105/2011) is
added.
– Paragraph 11 is deleted because is superfluous as the notion "commercial
intermediary" is described in Article 45.
– Paragraph 12: a definition of seafarer is added to ensure that all staff working on
ships benefit from the various procedural facilitations.
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Council Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013 of 7 October 2013 establishing an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis and repealing the Decision of the Executive Committee of 16 September 1998 setting up a Standing Committee on the evaluation and implementation of the Schengen acquis, OJ L 295, 6.11.2013, p. 27. Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009
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Article 3 – Third country
nationals required to hold an airport transit visa
Paragraph 5 (b) and (c): addition of a reference to the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Article 4 – Authorities competent for taking part in the procedures relating to applications
Paragraph 2: addition of a reference to the new Article 36a which allows for the issuing of visas at external borders under a specific scheme.
Article 5 – Member State competent for examining and deciding on an application
Paragraph 1 (b) is amended to maintain only one objective criterion, i.e. length of stay, for determining the Member State competent for examining an application when the envisaged trip covers more than one destination. The aim is to enhance clarity for visa applicants and avoid disagreement among Member States about competence.
In adition, competence is clarified for cases where a person has to make several unconnected trips to different Member States within a short period where applying for a visa for each trip would not only be impossible because of time constraints but also be an excessive burden.
Article 8 – Representation arrangements
Current paragraph 2 is deleted to ensure that the representing Member State is fully responsible for the processing of visa applications on behalf of the represented Member State, which will streamline the processing of visa applications under representation and is in line with the principle of mutual trust on which the Schengen acquis is based.
Paragraph 3 governs the collection and transmission of files and data among Member States in situations where a Member State represents another solely for the collection of applications and biometric identifiers.
Paragraph 4 is amended to take account of the deletion of the possibility of a represented Member State to require being involved in cases handled under representation.
Paragraph 7 sets a minimum deadline by which the represented Member States must notify the Commission of the conclusion or termination of representation arrangements.
Paragraph 8 provides that the representing Member States shall at the same time notify to other Member States and the EU Delegation in the jurisdiction concerned the conclusion or termination of representation arrangements.
Paragraph 10 is added to prevent prolonged interruption of operations and the manual issuing of visa stickers.
Article 9 – Practical modalities for lodging an application
Paragraph 1 extends to six months the maximum deadline for lodging an application to allow travellers to plan ahead and avoid peak seasons; due to their specific working conditions, seafarers may lodge their application nine months before the
intended trip. Minimum deadline for lodging an application has been set to allow Member States time for proper assessment of applications and organisation of work.
Paragraph 4 is amended to clarify the rules on who may lodge the application on behalf of the applicant and a reference is made to professional, cultural, sports or education association or institution as distinct from commercial intermediaries.
Paragraph 5 has been moved from the previous Article 40 i and amended to emphasise the basic principle that an applicant should only have to go to one location to lodge an application.
Article 10 - General rules for lodging an application
Paragraph 1 has been replaced by a new text to take account of the abolition of the general principle of all applicants having to lodge the application in person each time they apply for a visa. This change is without prejudice to the obligations imposed on Member States by Directive 2004/38/EC, in particular its Article 5(2). Applicants are required to appear in person at the consulate or the external service provider for the collection of fingerprints to be stored in the VIS.
Paragraph 2 is deleted as a consequence of the amendment of paragraph 1.
Article 11 – Application form
Paragraph 1 is amended to add a reference to the possibility of filling in and signing the application form electronically.
Paragraph 1a is added to emphasise that the content of the electronic application forms must correspond to the content of the uniform application form in Annex I and no additional entries may be added.
Paragraph 3 has been simplified to ensure that the application form is always, as a minimum, available in the official language of the Member State, for which the visa is requested, and that of the host state.
Paragraph 4 is deleted because of changes in paragraph 3.
Article 14 – Supporting
documents
Paragraph 4 is amended to clarify and further harmonise the content of the national forms for sponsorship and/or invitation.
Paragraph 5 is replaced to match the enhance role to be played by local Schengen cooperation (Article 48(1)).
Paragraph 5a has been added to take account of the provisions on implementing measures set out in Article 52(2).
Article 15 –Travel medical insurance
In Paragraph 1 the reference to 'two' entries has been deleted as a consequence of the deletion of the same reference in Article 24(1).
Paragraph 2 has been amended to clarify that applicants applying for a multiple entry visa have to provide proof of travel medical insurance only for the first intended visit.
Article 16 – Visa fee
Paragraph 1: the visa fee is increased from EUR 60 to EUR 80 to ensure better coverage of Member States' costs; this will increase of Member States' resources (+26%), while not representing a deterrent for the overwhelming majority of visa applicants, compared with the travel and other costs involved. A mechanism is introduced to assess the need to revise the fee every two years taking into account criteria such as the EU inflation rate, is introduced. This allows for regular monitoring and a review of the fee where appropriate. Inter alia the proposed increase of the fee will allow Member State to maintain adequate levels of consular staff to process visa applications within the timeframe set in Article 23.
Paragraph 2: the visa fee for minors (6-12 years of age) will be increased by EUR 5 to EUR 40.
Paragraph 3 is deleted because the reference to 'administrative costs' is artificial given that research has shown that the precise administrative costs cannot be calculated. The imprecise reference to regular revisions is replaced by a clearer revision mechanism in paragraph 8a.
Paragraph 4(c): the text is amended to ensure that researchers participating in seminars/conferences are also covered by the visa fee waiver and a reference to the correct legal basis is added.
Paragraph 5 is deleted as general optional visa fee waivers are mostly decided upon at central level and therefore local harmonisation is not possible.
New Paragraph 8a establishes a mechanism for revision at regular (two-year) intervals and refers to the criteria on which to base such revision.
Article 17 – Service fee
In paragraph 1, the reference to an ‘additional’ service fee has been deleted as it is misleading.
Paragraph 3 is deleted as experience has shown that such local harmonisation of service fees set in general contracts established at central level is not feasible.
A new paragraph 4a is added to allowing external service providers to charge a higher service fee when operating in third countries whose nationals are under visa requirement and where no Member State is present to collect visa applications. A higher service fee will cover the transfer of application files and return of travel document to/from the case-handling consulate located in another country.
Paragraph 5 is deleted as Member States should not be obliged to maintain the possibility of direct access for lodging applications at the consulate in places where an external service provider has been mandated to collect visa applications. This does not prevent them from offering the possibility of direct access.
Article 21 - Verification of entry conditions and risk assessment
Paragraph 3 (e) is amended as a consequence of the amendment of Article 15(2).
Paragraph 4 is amended to clarify the distinction between earlier stays under short stay visas and other types of visas or residence permits.
Paragraph 8 is amended to allow Member States to use modern means of communication to interview applicants, rather than requiring them to come to the consulate in person.
Article 22 – Prior consultation
Paragraph 2 is amended to require Member States to reply to consultation requests as soon as possible and at the latest within seven calendar days.
Paragraph 3 requires Member States to notify requests for prior consultation at the latest 15 calendar days before the introduction of the measure so that applicants can be informed in good time and other Member States can prepare at technical level.
Paragraph 5 is deleted because it has become obsolete.
Article 23 – Decision on the application
Paragraph 1 provides that the general decision making time should be maximum 10 days. The average decision making time is 5 days according to information recorded in the Visa Information System. Short decision making times are used by some Member States as a deliberate means of attracting travellers and excessive discrepancies between processing times lead to ‘visa shopping’. The proposed increased visa fee will allow Member States to maintain or increase numbers of decision-making staff in consulates to ensure that decisions are taken on applications within the maximum deadline.
Paragraph 2 is amended to allow for extending the maximum period for deciding on applications to 45 days and the last sentence is deleted as a consequence of the abolition of the provision whereby a represented Member State can require to be consulted on cases handled in representation (Article 8(4)).
Paragraph 3 is deleted because a period of 60 calendar days to examine an application for a short-stay visa is excessive.
A new point ba) is added in paragraph 4 to add a reference to airport transit visas which is missing in the current Visa Code.
Point (d) in paragraph 4 is deleted as a consequence of the abolition of the provision allowing a represented Member State to be consulted; this abolishes the requirement that certain cases be transmitted for handling by the represented Member State rather than the representing Member State.
Article 24 – Issuing
of a uniform visa
In the first sentence of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, the reference to ‘two-entry’ visas is deleted as it is superfluous – it is covered by the word ‘multiple’ and could limit the issuing of multiple entry visas.
The third subparagraph is deleted as a consequence of the deletion of the reference to “transit” in Article 1(1).
The formulation of the fourth subparagraph of paragraph 1, is clarified by removing the reference to ‘additional’ as it lead to misunderstandings as regards the calculation of the validity of the travel medical insurance.
A reformulated paragraph 2 establishes general rules for a gradual issuing of multiple entry visas with a long validity, i.e. a “cascade”. Such harmonised rules will prevent “visa shopping” and fraudulent behaviour where applicants seek to conceal the true Member State of destination in order to apply at the consulate perceived as granting visas with the longest validity.
A new paragraph 2a is added to allow for divergence from paragraph 2 where there is reasonable doubt as to whether the applicant will be able to fulfil the entry conditions throughout the period of validity of the visa
A new paragraph 2b is added to allow for local adaptation of the ‘cascade’ to take account of local circumstances and migratory and security risks.
A new paragraph 2c is added to cover other cases of visa applicants eligible for being granted an multiple entry visa with a long validity.
A new paragraph 2d refers to the procedures for adopting such local ‘cascades’. Reference is made to the need to take account, in the assessment of the local adaptation, of migratory and security risk and the third country’s cooperation on the readmission of irregular migrants.
Article 25a – Cooperation on readmission
Paragraph 1: the general provisions on the limited number of supporting documents, the visa fee as established in Article 16(1), fee waiver for holders of diplomatic passports, 10-day processing time and the issuing of multiple entry visas will not apply to nationals of third countries not cooperating on readmission on the basis of objective and relevant criteria. The precise implementation of restrictive measures will be set out in the implementing act, referred to in paragraph 5.
Paragraph 2: the Commission is regularly to assess third countries’ cooperation on readmission, taking account of a number of indicators.
Paragraph 3: Member States may notify substantial and persistent practical readmission problems with a given third country on the basis of the same indicators as set out in paragraph 2.
Paragraph 4: the Commission is to assess Member States' notifications within one month.
Paragraph 5: on the basis of its analysis of Member States' notifications, where it considers that action is needed, the Commission is to adopt an implementing act temporarily suspending/applying the relevant provisions (cf. paragraph 1) to all nationals or categories of nationals of the third country in question.
Paragraph 6: the Commission is continuously to assess the third country's effective cooperation on readmission in order to adapt or repeal the application of restrictive measures.
Paragraph 7: at the latest six months after the entry into force of the implementing act, the Commission is to report to European Parliament and the Council on progress on cooperation on readmission.
Article 27 – Filling in of
the visa sticker
Paragraph 1 is replaced and deletes Annex VII on the filling in of the visa sticker and empowers the Commission to adopt the details for filling in the visa sticker by an implementing act.
Paragraph 2 is amended to strengthen the provisions on the national comments on the visa sticker.
Paragraph 4 is amended to ensure that only single entry visas are issued manually.
Article 29 – Affixing a visa sticker
Paragraph 1 is amended to take account of the deletion of Annex VIII.
Paragraph 1a is inserted to empower the Commission to adopt the operational instructions on how to affix the visa sticker by an implementing act.
Article 31 – Informing central authorities of other Member States
Paragraph 2 is amended to ensure timely information of other Member States, in line with changes made in Article 22 (prior consultation).
Article 32 – Refusal of a visa
A new point iia is added in paragraph 1, point 1(a), to remedy an earlier omission related to airport transit.
Paragraph 3 is replaced to refer to the need for Member States to provide detailed information on appeal procedures and for such procedures to guarantee an effective judicial appeal (cf. ECJ ruling Case C- 403/16).
Paragraph 4 is deleted as a consequence of deleting of the provision requiring that certain cases be transmitted for handling by the represented Member State rather than the representing Member State.
Article 36 – Visas issued to seafarers in transit at the external borders
Paragraph 2 is deleted.
Paragraph 3 is inserted to empower the Commission to adopt the operational instructions for issuing visas to seafarers at the borders.
Article 36a – Visas applied for at the external border under a specific scheme
In order to promote short term tourism (max. seven days), a new provision derogating from the general rules on the issuing of visas at the external border has been introduced. Member States will be allowed to issue visas at the external border under specific schemes subject to strict criteria and upon notification and publication of the organisational modalities of the scheme. Detailed provisions establish safeguards to minimise the irregular migration and security risks, particularly by limiting the duration of such schemes to four months and restricting their scope to nationals of the country adjacent to the land border crossing point or are nationals of a country having direct ferry connection to the sea border crossing point. Specially trained staff must carry out a full examination of compliance with all entry conditions must be carried out in appropriate structures. The visa eventually issued shall be valid for the issuing Member State only for one entry and a stay of no more
than seven days. The schemes can apply only to nationals of third countries having concluded a readmission agreement and for which the mechanism referred to in Article 25a has not been triggered.
Article 37 – Organisation of visa sections
Paragraph 3 is amended to allow for electronic filing and to reduce the minimum period of archiving.
Article 38 – Resources for examining applications and monitoring of consulates
A new paragraph 1a is added to ensure that the integrity of the visa-handling procedure is enforced and monitored appropriately.
Article 40 – Consular organisation and cooperation
More flexible rules have been added that allow Member States to optimise their use of resources, increase consular coverage and develop cooperation.
In paragraph 1, the second sentence has become obsolete, as the lodging of applications at consulates is no longer the basic principle, and it is therefore deleted.
Point (b) of paragraph 2 is reworded as a consequence of the deletion of the old Article 41 and of the abolition of recourse to outsourcing as a ‘last resort’.
Article 41 Cooperation between Member States
This Article has been deleted because the options set out have proven not to be feasible. The revised Article 40 allows the Member States to develop cooperation in a more flexible manner.
Article 43 – Cooperation with external service providers
Paragraph 3 is deleted because Member States generally draw up global contracts with external service providers at central level.
A reference to the mandatory information to be given to applicants is added in in point (a) in paragraph 6.
Point (e) of paragraph 6 is amended as a consequence of the amendment of Articles 10 and 40.
Paragraph 7 is amended to extend the range of entities that can participate in calls for tenders.
Paragraph 9 is amended to take account of new legislation on data protection and to ensure that external service providers’ respect of data protection rules is monitored by Member States’ data protection supervisory authorities.
Paragraph 11 is amended to emphasise that Member States must verify that external service providers provide applicants with all the information required under Article 47(1) and to reinforce the obligation of the Member States to monitor external service providers.
A new paragraph 11a is added to require that Member States report annually to the Commission on their cooperation with and monitoring of external service providers.
Article 44 – Encryption and secure transfer of data
Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 are amended to take account of the removal from Article 8 of references to the involvement of the represented Member State.
Article 45 - Member States' cooperation with commercial intermediaries
Paragraph 1 is amended as a consequence of the deletion of the old Article 2(11), i.e. the definition of commercial intermediary.
Paragraph 3 is amended because it duplicates the general rule set out in Article 21(3)(e) on the verification of applicants’ possession of adequate travel medical insurance.
Article 47
Paragraph 1, point (c) is amended to take account of the deletion of the old Article 41.
Article 48 – Local Schengen cooperation
Paragraph 1 is reworded to clarify the mandatory nature of local Schengen cooperation (LSC).
Paragraph 1a, first sentence, and points (a) and (b) are amended to provide that within LSC, harmonised lists of supporting documents and local implementation of multiple entry visa ‘cascades’ are prepared.
Paragraph 2 is deleted and the content inserted into paragraph 1a.
Point (a) of paragraph 3 is amended to provide for the quarterly (rather than monthly) compilations of statistics on visas at local level.
Point (b) of paragraph 3 is amended to emphasise which aspects should be discussed (and assessed) in the LSC.
Paragraph 6a is amended to provide that on the basis of the annual reports drawn up in the various LSC contexts, the Commission draws up one annual report to be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council.
Article 50 is deleted as a consequence of the deletion of Annexes VII, VIII and IX. Amendment of the remaining Annexes will amended following a full legislative procedure.
Articles 50a and 50b Exercise of delegation and urgency procedure These Articles are added to take account of the provisions of Article 290 of TFEU.
Article 51 – Instructions on the practical application of the Visa Code The Article is amended to take account of the provisions set out in Article 52(2).
Article 52 – Committee procedure
– This Article is replaced to take account of the provisions governing the exercise of
the Commission’s implementing powers in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
Article 2 - Monitoring and evaluation
These are the standard provisions regarding monitoring and evaluation of legal instruments.
Article 3 - Entry into force
– Paragraphs 1, 2 and 4: these are the standard clauses on entry into force and direct
applicability. The application of the Regulation is deferred for [six months] following entry into force.
Annexes
– Annex I (application form) is replaced to simplify and clarify content.
– Annex V (residence permits issued by certain third countries the holders of which are
exempt from the airport transit visa requirement) is replaced by updated information.
– Annex VI (standard form for giving reasons for refusal, annulment or revocation of a
visa) to allow for more detailed information on refusal grounds and procedures for appealing against negative decisions.
– Annexes VII, VIII and IX are deleted.
– Annex X (list of minimum requirements to be included in the legal instrument
covering cooperation with external service providers) is replaced to add more details with regard to certain aspects to be covered in the legal instrument.