BETA


2007/0149(CNS) EC/Montenegro agreement: issuance of short-stay visas

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead LIBE VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana (icon: ALDE ALDE)
Committee Opinion AFET VERNOLA Marcello (icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
EC Treaty (after Amsterdam) EC 062-p2-ab-i/ii, EC Treaty (after Amsterdam) EC 300-p2/3-a1

Events

2007/12/19
   Final act published in Official Journal
Details

PURPOSE: the conclusion of an Agreement between the Community and Montenegro on the issuance of short-stay visas.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2007/823/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of the issuance of visas.

CONTENT: the purpose of this Decision is the conclusion an Agreement between the Community and the Republic of Montenegro on facilitating the issuance of short-stay visas. For the purpose of the Agreement “short-stay” visas will apply to issuing a visa for an intended stay of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days.

The main elements of the Agreement can be summarised as follows:

in principle, a decision on whether or not to issue a visa will have to taken within 10 calendar days. This period may be extended by up to 30 calendar days. In urgent cases the period for taking a decision may be reduced to three working days or less; the visa fee will amount to EUR 35. It concerns both single and multiple-entry visas. Certain categories of persons may have their fee waved. For example, close relatives, officials participating in government activities, students, journalists, disabled persons etc.; provisions regarding the presentation of documents in the case of a journey have been simplified for certain categories of people including, inter alia : close relatives, business people, official delegates, students, drivers conducting international cargo, tourists on organised trips, etc. the criteria for issuing multiple-entry visas has been simplified for certain categories of peoples. For example, in the case of members of the national government and parliament, the Constitutional and Supreme Court, president of the Court of Appeals, president of the Administrative Court, permanent members of official delegations and spouses and children visiting citizens of the Republic of Montenegro legally residing in the Member States, then the visa will be valid for up to five years – or depending on the period of their mandate for legal residence. For participants in scientific, cultural, official exchange programmes and sport events, journalists, business people etc. visas will be valid for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years. There are, however, conditions attached to this later point; holders of diplomatic passports are exempted from the short-stay visa requirements; for those citizens who already hold a service passport then the bilateral Agreements that have been signed before 1 January 2007 will continue to apply for a period of five years; a Protocol has been attached to the Agreement stating that those Member States who are yet to apply the Schengen acquis in full, may unilaterally recognise Schengen visas and residence permits that have been issued to citizens of Montenegro for the purpose of transit through their territory in accordance with European Parliament and Council Decision 895/2006/EC. A reference to the future amendment of the Decision (EC) 895/2006 for covering Bulgaria and Romania is added; a European Community Declaration has been attached to the Agreement on the matter of allowing visa applicants access to information on issuing short-stay visas; in response to specific requests from the Republic of Montenegro, the European Community has attached Declarations to the Agreement regarding those family members who are not legally covered by the provisions of the Agreement as well as for bona fide applicants; in cases where certain issues are not covered by this Agreement, the normal Schengen rules apply or national law (such as refusing a visa, the recognition of travel documents, proof of sufficient means of subsistence, etc).

Neither the United Kingdom nor Ireland is bound by the Agreement. Nor will Denmark be participating in the Agreement.

Since the Agreements on visa facilitation and readmission (see CNS/2007/0146 ) are linked, both Agreements both will enter into force simultaneously.

2007/11/08
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
2007/11/08
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2007/11/08
   CSL - Council Meeting
2007/10/24
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2007/10/24
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Adina-Ioana VÃLEAN (ALDE, RO) and approved the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of issuance of short-stay visas.

Documents
2007/10/12
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2007/10/12
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2007/10/09
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted a report drawn up by Adina-Ioana VÃLEAN (ALDE, RO) approving, without amendment, the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of issuance of short-stay visas.

2007/10/04
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2007/09/24
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2007/09/21
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2007/09/18
   CSL - Council Meeting
2007/09/12
   EP - VERNOLA Marcello (PPE-DE) appointed as rapporteur in AFET
2007/09/10
   EP - VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in LIBE
2007/07/18
   EC - Legislative proposal
Details

PURPOSE: to sign and conclude an Agreement between the Community and Montenegro on the issuance of short-stay visas.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the 2003 “Thessaloniki Agenda” recognised the need to integrate and accommodate the visa needs of the Western Balkan countries with those of the EU - a policy which is fully compatible, and in line with, the EU’s Hague Programmes on the development of a common approach on visas. Indeed, the EU has already developed and signed Agreements on short-term visas with both the Russian Federation and with the Ukraine the purpose of which is to facilitate the processing of visas. Accordingly, in 2006 the Council authorised the Commission to begin negotiations with Montenegro on the issuance of short-stay visas alongside negotiations for a Readmission Agreement. See CNS/2007/0146 . These negotiations were concluded in April 2007. Throughout the negotiations process both the Member States and Parliament were kept fully abreast of developments by the Commission.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to request the Council to sign and conclude an Agreement between the Community and the Republic of Montenegro on facilitating the issuance of short-stay visas. For the purpose of the proposed Agreement “short-stay” visas will apply to issuing a visa for an intended stay of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days.

The main elements of the proposal can be summarised as follows:

- in principle, a decision on whether or not to issue a visa will have to taken within 10 calendar days. This period may be extended by up to 30 calendar days. In urgent cases the period for taking a decision may be reduced to three working days or less;

- the visa fee will amount to EUR 35. It concerns both single and multiple-entry visas. Certain categories of persons may have their fee waved. For example, close relatives, officials participating in government activities, students, journalists, disabled persons etc.;

- provisions regarding the presentation of documents in the case of a journey have been simplified for certain categories of people including, inter alia : close relatives, business people, official delegates, students, drivers conducting international cargo, tourists on organised trips, etc.

- the criteria for issuing multiple-entry visas has been simplified for certain categories of peoples. For example, in the case of members of the national government and parliament, the Constitutional and Supreme Court, president of the Court of Appeals, president of the Administrative Court, permanent members of official delegations and spouses and children visiting citizens of the Republic of Montenegro legally residing in the Member States, then the visa will be valid for up to five years – or depending on the period of their mandate for legal residence. For participants in scientific, cultural, official exchange programmes and sport events, journalists, business people etc. visas will be valid for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years. There are, however, conditions attached to this later point;

- holders of diplomatic passports are exempted from the short-stay visa requirements;

- for those citizens who already hold a service passport then the bilateral Agreements that have been signed before 1 January 2007 will continue to apply for a period of five years;

- a Protocol has been attached to the Agreement stating that those Member States who are yet to apply the Schengen acquis in full, may unilaterally recognise Schengen visas and residence permits that have been issued to citizens of Montenegro for the purpose of transit through their territory;

- a European Community Declaration has been attached to the Agreement on the matter of allowing visa applicants access to information on issuing short-stay visas;

- in response to specific requests from the Republic of Montenegro, the European Community has attached Declarations to the Agreement regarding those family members who are not legally covered by the provisions of the Agreement as well as for bona fide applicants;

- in cases where certain issues are not covered by this Agreement, the normal Schengen rules apply or national law (such as refusing a visa, the recognition of travel documents, proof of sufficient means of subsistence etc).

Neither the United Kingdom nor Ireland are bound by the Agreement. Nor will Denmark be participating in the Agreement. Since the Agreements on visa facilitation and readmission are linked, both Agreements should be signed, concluded and entered into force simultaneously.

2007/07/17
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to sign and conclude an Agreement between the Community and Montenegro on the issuance of short-stay visas.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the 2003 “Thessaloniki Agenda” recognised the need to integrate and accommodate the visa needs of the Western Balkan countries with those of the EU - a policy which is fully compatible, and in line with, the EU’s Hague Programmes on the development of a common approach on visas. Indeed, the EU has already developed and signed Agreements on short-term visas with both the Russian Federation and with the Ukraine the purpose of which is to facilitate the processing of visas. Accordingly, in 2006 the Council authorised the Commission to begin negotiations with Montenegro on the issuance of short-stay visas alongside negotiations for a Readmission Agreement. See CNS/2007/0146 . These negotiations were concluded in April 2007. Throughout the negotiations process both the Member States and Parliament were kept fully abreast of developments by the Commission.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to request the Council to sign and conclude an Agreement between the Community and the Republic of Montenegro on facilitating the issuance of short-stay visas. For the purpose of the proposed Agreement “short-stay” visas will apply to issuing a visa for an intended stay of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days.

The main elements of the proposal can be summarised as follows:

- in principle, a decision on whether or not to issue a visa will have to taken within 10 calendar days. This period may be extended by up to 30 calendar days. In urgent cases the period for taking a decision may be reduced to three working days or less;

- the visa fee will amount to EUR 35. It concerns both single and multiple-entry visas. Certain categories of persons may have their fee waved. For example, close relatives, officials participating in government activities, students, journalists, disabled persons etc.;

- provisions regarding the presentation of documents in the case of a journey have been simplified for certain categories of people including, inter alia : close relatives, business people, official delegates, students, drivers conducting international cargo, tourists on organised trips, etc.

- the criteria for issuing multiple-entry visas has been simplified for certain categories of peoples. For example, in the case of members of the national government and parliament, the Constitutional and Supreme Court, president of the Court of Appeals, president of the Administrative Court, permanent members of official delegations and spouses and children visiting citizens of the Republic of Montenegro legally residing in the Member States, then the visa will be valid for up to five years – or depending on the period of their mandate for legal residence. For participants in scientific, cultural, official exchange programmes and sport events, journalists, business people etc. visas will be valid for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years. There are, however, conditions attached to this later point;

- holders of diplomatic passports are exempted from the short-stay visa requirements;

- for those citizens who already hold a service passport then the bilateral Agreements that have been signed before 1 January 2007 will continue to apply for a period of five years;

- a Protocol has been attached to the Agreement stating that those Member States who are yet to apply the Schengen acquis in full, may unilaterally recognise Schengen visas and residence permits that have been issued to citizens of Montenegro for the purpose of transit through their territory;

- a European Community Declaration has been attached to the Agreement on the matter of allowing visa applicants access to information on issuing short-stay visas;

- in response to specific requests from the Republic of Montenegro, the European Community has attached Declarations to the Agreement regarding those family members who are not legally covered by the provisions of the Agreement as well as for bona fide applicants;

- in cases where certain issues are not covered by this Agreement, the normal Schengen rules apply or national law (such as refusing a visa, the recognition of travel documents, proof of sufficient means of subsistence etc).

Neither the United Kingdom nor Ireland are bound by the Agreement. Nor will Denmark be participating in the Agreement. Since the Agreements on visa facilitation and readmission are linked, both Agreements should be signed, concluded and entered into force simultaneously.

Documents

History

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

docs/0
date
2007-07-18T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
EC
docs/1
date
2007-10-04T00:00:00
docs
url: http://nullEN&reference=PE394.092&secondRef=02 title: PE394.092
committee
AFET
type
Committee opinion
body
EP
docs/2
date
2007-10-04T00:00:00
docs
url: http://nullEN&reference=PE394.092&secondRef=02 title: PE394.092
committee
AFET
type
Committee opinion
body
EP
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://nullEN&reference=PE394.092&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFET-AD-394092_EN.html
events/0
date
2007-07-17T00:00:00
type
Legislative proposal published
body
EC
docs
summary
events/0
date
2007-07-18T00:00:00
type
Legislative proposal published
body
EC
docs
summary
events/8/docs/1/url
Old
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2007:334:TOC
New
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:334:SOM:EN:HTML
links/National parliaments/url
Old
http://www.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/dossier.do?code=CNS&year=2007&number=0149&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=CNS&year=2007&number=0149&appLng=EN
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE394.121
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=PE394.121
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE394.092&secondRef=02
New
http://nullEN&reference=PE394.092&secondRef=02
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2007-0379_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2007-0379_EN.html
events/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2007/0426/COM_COM(2007)0426_EN.pdf
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2007/0426/COM_COM(2007)0426_EN.pdf
events/1/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/2/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2007-0379_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2007-0379_EN.html
events/5
date
2007-10-24T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2007-0452_EN.html title: T6-0452/2007
summary
The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Adina-Ioana VÃLEAN (ALDE, RO) and approved the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of issuance of short-stay visas.
events/5
date
2007-10-24T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2007-0452_EN.html title: T6-0452/2007
summary
The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Adina-Ioana VÃLEAN (ALDE, RO) and approved the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of issuance of short-stay visas.
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
committee
LIBE
rapporteur
name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana date: 2007-09-10T00:00:00 group: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe abbr: ALDE
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
committee
LIBE
date
2007-09-10T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana group: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe abbr: ALDE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
rapporteur
name: VERNOLA Marcello date: 2007-09-12T00:00:00 group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats abbr: PPE-DE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
date
2007-09-12T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: VERNOLA Marcello group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats abbr: PPE-DE
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-379&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2007-0379_EN.html
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-379&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2007-0379_EN.html
events/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2007-452
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2007-0452_EN.html
events/8/docs/1/url
Old
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:334:SOM:EN:HTML
New
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2007:334:TOC
activities
  • date: 2007-07-18T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2007/0426/COM_COM(2007)0426_EN.pdf title: COM(2007)0426 type: Legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52007PC0426(02):EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/ title: Justice Commissioner: FRATTINI Franco type: Legislative proposal published
  • date: 2007-09-18T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) meeting_id: 2818
  • date: 2007-09-24T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: AFET date: 2007-09-12T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: VERNOLA Marcello body: EP responsible: True committee: LIBE date: 2007-09-10T00:00:00 committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana
  • date: 2007-10-09T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: AFET date: 2007-09-12T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: VERNOLA Marcello body: EP responsible: True committee: LIBE date: 2007-09-10T00:00:00 committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2007-10-12T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-379&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A6-0379/2007 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: AFET date: 2007-09-12T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: VERNOLA Marcello body: EP responsible: True committee: LIBE date: 2007-09-10T00:00:00 committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2007-10-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=14116&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2007-452 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0452/2007 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2007-11-08T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) meeting_id: 2827
  • date: 2007-11-08T00:00:00 body: EP type: End of procedure in Parliament
  • date: 2007-11-08T00:00:00 body: EP/CSL type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
  • date: 2007-12-19T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32007D0823 title: Decision 2007/823 url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:334:SOM:EN:HTML title: OJ L 334 19.12.2007, p. 0108
commission
  • body: EC dg: Justice and Consumers commissioner: FRATTINI Franco
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
committee
LIBE
date
2007-09-10T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana group: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe abbr: ALDE
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
False
committee
AFET
date
2007-09-12T00:00:00
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
rapporteur
group: PPE-DE name: VERNOLA Marcello
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
date
2007-09-12T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: VERNOLA Marcello group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats abbr: PPE-DE
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
True
committee
LIBE
date
2007-09-10T00:00:00
committee_full
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
rapporteur
group: ALDE name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana
council
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) meeting_id: 2827 url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=2827*&MEET_DATE=08/11/2007 date: 2007-11-08T00:00:00
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) meeting_id: 2818 url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=2818*&MEET_DATE=18/09/2007 date: 2007-09-18T00:00:00
docs
  • date: 2007-09-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE394.121 title: PE394.121 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2007-10-04T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE394.092&secondRef=02 title: PE394.092 committee: AFET type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2007-10-12T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-379&language=EN title: A6-0379/2007 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
events
  • date: 2007-07-18T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2007/0426/COM_COM(2007)0426_EN.pdf title: COM(2007)0426 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2007&nu_doc=426 title: EUR-Lex summary: PURPOSE: to sign and conclude an Agreement between the Community and Montenegro on the issuance of short-stay visas. PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. BACKGROUND: the 2003 “Thessaloniki Agenda” recognised the need to integrate and accommodate the visa needs of the Western Balkan countries with those of the EU - a policy which is fully compatible, and in line with, the EU’s Hague Programmes on the development of a common approach on visas. Indeed, the EU has already developed and signed Agreements on short-term visas with both the Russian Federation and with the Ukraine the purpose of which is to facilitate the processing of visas. Accordingly, in 2006 the Council authorised the Commission to begin negotiations with Montenegro on the issuance of short-stay visas alongside negotiations for a Readmission Agreement. See CNS/2007/0146 . These negotiations were concluded in April 2007. Throughout the negotiations process both the Member States and Parliament were kept fully abreast of developments by the Commission. CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to request the Council to sign and conclude an Agreement between the Community and the Republic of Montenegro on facilitating the issuance of short-stay visas. For the purpose of the proposed Agreement “short-stay” visas will apply to issuing a visa for an intended stay of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days. The main elements of the proposal can be summarised as follows: - in principle, a decision on whether or not to issue a visa will have to taken within 10 calendar days. This period may be extended by up to 30 calendar days. In urgent cases the period for taking a decision may be reduced to three working days or less; - the visa fee will amount to EUR 35. It concerns both single and multiple-entry visas. Certain categories of persons may have their fee waved. For example, close relatives, officials participating in government activities, students, journalists, disabled persons etc.; - provisions regarding the presentation of documents in the case of a journey have been simplified for certain categories of people including, inter alia : close relatives, business people, official delegates, students, drivers conducting international cargo, tourists on organised trips, etc. - the criteria for issuing multiple-entry visas has been simplified for certain categories of peoples. For example, in the case of members of the national government and parliament, the Constitutional and Supreme Court, president of the Court of Appeals, president of the Administrative Court, permanent members of official delegations and spouses and children visiting citizens of the Republic of Montenegro legally residing in the Member States, then the visa will be valid for up to five years – or depending on the period of their mandate for legal residence. For participants in scientific, cultural, official exchange programmes and sport events, journalists, business people etc. visas will be valid for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years. There are, however, conditions attached to this later point; - holders of diplomatic passports are exempted from the short-stay visa requirements; - for those citizens who already hold a service passport then the bilateral Agreements that have been signed before 1 January 2007 will continue to apply for a period of five years; - a Protocol has been attached to the Agreement stating that those Member States who are yet to apply the Schengen acquis in full, may unilaterally recognise Schengen visas and residence permits that have been issued to citizens of Montenegro for the purpose of transit through their territory; - a European Community Declaration has been attached to the Agreement on the matter of allowing visa applicants access to information on issuing short-stay visas; - in response to specific requests from the Republic of Montenegro, the European Community has attached Declarations to the Agreement regarding those family members who are not legally covered by the provisions of the Agreement as well as for bona fide applicants; - in cases where certain issues are not covered by this Agreement, the normal Schengen rules apply or national law (such as refusing a visa, the recognition of travel documents, proof of sufficient means of subsistence etc). Neither the United Kingdom nor Ireland are bound by the Agreement. Nor will Denmark be participating in the Agreement. Since the Agreements on visa facilitation and readmission are linked, both Agreements should be signed, concluded and entered into force simultaneously.
  • date: 2007-09-24T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2007-10-09T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted a report drawn up by Adina-Ioana VÃLEAN (ALDE, RO) approving, without amendment, the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of issuance of short-stay visas.
  • date: 2007-10-12T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-379&language=EN title: A6-0379/2007
  • date: 2007-10-24T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=14116&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2007-10-24T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2007-452 title: T6-0452/2007 summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Adina-Ioana VÃLEAN (ALDE, RO) and approved the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of issuance of short-stay visas.
  • date: 2007-11-08T00:00:00 type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament body: EP/CSL
  • date: 2007-11-08T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
  • date: 2007-12-19T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal summary: PURPOSE: the conclusion of an Agreement between the Community and Montenegro on the issuance of short-stay visas. LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2007/823/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of the issuance of visas. CONTENT: the purpose of this Decision is the conclusion an Agreement between the Community and the Republic of Montenegro on facilitating the issuance of short-stay visas. For the purpose of the Agreement “short-stay” visas will apply to issuing a visa for an intended stay of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days. The main elements of the Agreement can be summarised as follows: in principle, a decision on whether or not to issue a visa will have to taken within 10 calendar days. This period may be extended by up to 30 calendar days. In urgent cases the period for taking a decision may be reduced to three working days or less; the visa fee will amount to EUR 35. It concerns both single and multiple-entry visas. Certain categories of persons may have their fee waved. For example, close relatives, officials participating in government activities, students, journalists, disabled persons etc.; provisions regarding the presentation of documents in the case of a journey have been simplified for certain categories of people including, inter alia : close relatives, business people, official delegates, students, drivers conducting international cargo, tourists on organised trips, etc. the criteria for issuing multiple-entry visas has been simplified for certain categories of peoples. For example, in the case of members of the national government and parliament, the Constitutional and Supreme Court, president of the Court of Appeals, president of the Administrative Court, permanent members of official delegations and spouses and children visiting citizens of the Republic of Montenegro legally residing in the Member States, then the visa will be valid for up to five years – or depending on the period of their mandate for legal residence. For participants in scientific, cultural, official exchange programmes and sport events, journalists, business people etc. visas will be valid for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years. There are, however, conditions attached to this later point; holders of diplomatic passports are exempted from the short-stay visa requirements; for those citizens who already hold a service passport then the bilateral Agreements that have been signed before 1 January 2007 will continue to apply for a period of five years; a Protocol has been attached to the Agreement stating that those Member States who are yet to apply the Schengen acquis in full, may unilaterally recognise Schengen visas and residence permits that have been issued to citizens of Montenegro for the purpose of transit through their territory in accordance with European Parliament and Council Decision 895/2006/EC. A reference to the future amendment of the Decision (EC) 895/2006 for covering Bulgaria and Romania is added; a European Community Declaration has been attached to the Agreement on the matter of allowing visa applicants access to information on issuing short-stay visas; in response to specific requests from the Republic of Montenegro, the European Community has attached Declarations to the Agreement regarding those family members who are not legally covered by the provisions of the Agreement as well as for bona fide applicants; in cases where certain issues are not covered by this Agreement, the normal Schengen rules apply or national law (such as refusing a visa, the recognition of travel documents, proof of sufficient means of subsistence, etc). Neither the United Kingdom nor Ireland is bound by the Agreement. Nor will Denmark be participating in the Agreement. Since the Agreements on visa facilitation and readmission (see CNS/2007/0146 ) are linked, both Agreements both will enter into force simultaneously. docs: title: Decision 2007/823 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32007D0823 title: OJ L 334 19.12.2007, p. 0108 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:334:SOM:EN:HTML
other
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Former Council configuration
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/ title: Justice commissioner: FRATTINI Franco
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
LIBE/6/52245
New
  • LIBE/6/52245
procedure/final/url
Old
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32007D0823
New
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32007D0823
procedure/subject
Old
  • 6.40.03 Relations with South-East Europe and the Balkans
  • 7.10.04 External borders crossing and controls, visas
New
6.40.03
Relations with South-East Europe and the Balkans
7.10.04
External borders crossing and controls, visas
activities/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2007/0426/COM_COM(2007)0426_EN.pdf
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2007/0426/COM_COM(2007)0426_EN.pdf
links/European Commission/title
Old
PreLex
New
EUR-Lex
activities
  • date: 2007-07-18T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2007/0426/COM_COM(2007)0426_EN.pdf celexid: CELEX:52007PC0426(02):EN type: Legislative proposal published title: COM(2007)0426 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/ title: Justice Commissioner: FRATTINI Franco
  • date: 2007-09-18T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) meeting_id: 2818
  • date: 2007-09-24T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: AFET date: 2007-09-12T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: VERNOLA Marcello body: EP responsible: True committee: LIBE date: 2007-09-10T00:00:00 committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana
  • date: 2007-10-09T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: AFET date: 2007-09-12T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: VERNOLA Marcello body: EP responsible: True committee: LIBE date: 2007-09-10T00:00:00 committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2007-10-12T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-379&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A6-0379/2007 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: AFET date: 2007-09-12T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: VERNOLA Marcello body: EP responsible: True committee: LIBE date: 2007-09-10T00:00:00 committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2007-10-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=14116&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2007-452 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0452/2007 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2007-11-08T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) meeting_id: 2827
  • date: 2007-11-08T00:00:00 body: EP type: End of procedure in Parliament
  • date: 2007-11-08T00:00:00 body: EP/CSL type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
  • date: 2007-12-19T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32007D0823 title: Decision 2007/823 url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:334:SOM:EN:HTML title: OJ L 334 19.12.2007, p. 0108
committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: AFET date: 2007-09-12T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: VERNOLA Marcello
  • body: EP responsible: True committee: LIBE date: 2007-09-10T00:00:00 committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana
links
National parliaments
European Commission
other
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Former Council configuration
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/ title: Justice commissioner: FRATTINI Franco
procedure
dossier_of_the_committee
LIBE/6/52245
reference
2007/0149(CNS)
instrument
Decision
legal_basis
stage_reached
Procedure completed
subtype
International agreement
title
EC/Montenegro agreement: issuance of short-stay visas
type
CNS - Consultation procedure
final
subject