Activites

• 1999/05/01 End of procedure in Parliament
• #2146
• 1998/12/03 Council Meeting
  • 2146
• 1998/11/20 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0695/1998 summary

    In adopting the report by Mr Klaus-Heiner LEHNE (PPE, D) on the uniform format for forms for affixing visas, Parliament took the view that the proposal ought to be based on Article 100c(3) of the Treaty (first pillar, qualified majority in the Council, consultation of Parliament) rather than Article K.3 (third pillar), as the harmonisation of uniform visa formats was based on Article 100. In Parliament's opinion, there was a parallel between the harmonisation of visas and the harmonisation of forms for affixing visas. Assigning the proposal for a Directive (rather than a joint action) to the first pillar, it entrusted the Commission with responsibility for laying down the technical specifications for the entry of particulars in visa forms and all the provisions previously entrusted to the Council. Parliament called for information relating to counterfeited or falsified visa formats to be exchanged immediately between the appropriate national authorities. Counterfeiting or falsifying such formats should be punishable according to national laws. Parliament called for the Member States to apply the proposal for a Directive one year after its entry into force.�

• 1998/11/19 Debate in Parliament
• 1998/10/27 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0408/1998
• 1998/09/18 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1998/07/16 Legislative proposal published
  • 10224/1998 summary

    OBJECTIVE: Joint action on establishment of a uniform format for forms for affixing visas. SUBSTANCE: The draft joint action (TEU Article K.3) aims to harmonise the format of forms for affixing visas issued by the Member States - to persons holding travel documents which are not recognised by the Member State drawing up the form or - to persons holding no travel documents. These two standard formats (an example of which is annexed to the draft joint action) must contain all the information required and meet a high level of technical standards to prevent counterfeiting or falsification. They should be suitable for use by all the Member States and bear universally recognisable security features which are visible to the naked eye. The draft joint action only lays down specifications which are not secret. These specifications must be supplemented by other secret specifications (to prevent counterfeiting) which may not include personal data. These additional specifications will be established by the Council at a later date. To ensure that the information in question will not be divulged to unauthorised persons, each Member State must designate a single body to be responsible for printing the forms while retaining the option to change the appointed body if necessary. The draft joint action provides that the same body could be designated by two or more Member States. �

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: 10224/1998
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0408/1998
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0695/1998
• Debate in Council: 2146

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)