PURPOSE : to contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon objectives by making it easier for researchers easier to enter and move within the Community for short periods, in order to increase the attractiveness of the Community for researchers throughout the world.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council to facilitate the issue by the Member States of uniform short-stay visas for researchers from third countries travelling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research

CONTENT : This Recommendation is intended to facilitate the admission of third-country nationals to carry out scientific research in the EU. The Recommendation will be completed by two other texts : a Directive establishing procedure for admitting third-country nationals for purposes of scientific research and a Recommendation to facilitate the issue by Member States of uniform short stay visas for researchers from third countries.

Member States are recommended to:

-to facilitate the issue of visas by expediting the examination of visa applications from researchers from third countries subject to a visa requirement under Regulation 539/2001/EC;

-to promote the international mobility of researchers from third countries needing to travel frequently within the EU by issuing them with multiple entry visas. When determining the period of validity of the visas, Member States should take into account the duration of the research programmes in which the researchers are taking part;

-to facilitate the adoption of a harmonised approach to the supporting evidence that researchers are required to enclose with their visa application, consulting the approved research organisations on this matter;

-to encourage the issue of visas without administrative fees for researchers;

-to take account of the goal of facilitating the issue of visas to researchers from third countries when engaging in local consular cooperation, in order to promote the exchange of best practices;

-to supply the Commission by 28 September 2006 with information about best practices adopted to facilitate the issue of uniform visas for researchers, so as to enable it to evaluate the progress made. Having regard to whether or not the directive on a specific procedure for admitting third-country nationals for the purposes of scientific research is adopted, and to the outcome of the evaluation, the possibility of incorporating the provisions of this Recommendation in an appropriate legally binding instrument should be examined.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Vincent PEILLON (PES, FR) broadly approving the proposal with a few amendments. (Please see the summary of 16/03/05).

A new recital states that the recommendation is also intended to provide a flexible formula for researchers who wish to maintain a professional link with an organisation of their country of origin (e.g. by spending periods of up to three months every semester in a European host research organisation located in the common area while continuing to work the rest of the time in the research organisation of origin).

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Vincent PEILLON (PES, FR) broadly approving the proposal with a few amendments. (Please see the summary of 16/03/05).

A new recital states that the recommendation is also intended to provide a flexible formula for researchers who wish to maintain a professional link with an organisation of their country of origin (e.g. by spending periods of up to three months every semester in a European host research organisation located in the common area while continuing to work the rest of the time in the research organisation of origin).

EP: decision of the committee responsible, 1st reading/single reading

The committee adopted the report by Vincent PEILLON (PES, FR) approving the proposed Recommendation under the 1st reading of the codecision procedure, subject to a few amendments . These stressed the need to promote women's involvement in scientific research and also added a new clause providing for the possibility of incorporating the provisions of the Recommendation into "an appropriate legally binding instrument" in the future.