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2015/0193(NLE) EU/Palau Agreement: short-stay visa waiver

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead LIBE GABRIEL Mariya (icon: PPE PPE) GUILLAUME Sylvie (icon: S&D S&D), STEVENS Helga (icon: ECR ECR), HYUSMENOVA Filiz (icon: ALDE ALDE), MICHEL Louis (icon: ALDE ALDE), VERGIAT Marie-Christine (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL), VALERO Bodil (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE)
Committee Opinion AFET
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 077-p2, TFEU 218-p6a

Events

2016/09/30
   Final act published in Official Journal
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2016/1741 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short--stay visa waiver.

CONTENT: with this Decision, the Agreement between the European Union and Palau on the short-stay visa waiver is approved on behalf of the Union.

To recall, the Commission negotiated on behalf of the European Union an Agreement with Palau on the short-stay visa waiver. This Agreement was signed and is applied on a provisional basis since 8 December 2015.

The agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period . A joint declaration on the interpretation of this period is attached to the agreement.

The visa waiver covers all categories of persons (holders of ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passports) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity .

For this latter category, each Member State and Palau remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. In order to ensure harmonised implementation, a joint declaration is attached to the agreement on the interpretation of the category of persons travelling for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

The Member States and Palau reserve the right to refuse entry into and short stay in their territories if one or more of these conditions is not met.

The Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement. The Union is to be represented within that Joint Committee by the Commission, which should be assisted by the representatives of the Member States.

This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom and Ireland do not take part. Therefore, these two countries are not bound by it or subject to its application.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20.9.2016.

Documents
Decision 2016/1741
OJ L 264 30.09.2016, p. 0021
2016/09/20
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
2016/09/20
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2016/09/20
   CSL - Council Meeting
2016/06/08
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
Documents
Results of vote in Parliament
2016/06/08
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 587 votes to 50 with 20 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period . The visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

The provisions of the Agreement shall not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland.

Documents
T8-0254/2016
2016/05/18
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Mariya GABRIEL (EPP, BG) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament should give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

To recall, the Agreement signed on 7 December 2015 provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period . The visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

The report is accompanied by a short justification stipulating that this Agreement on the waiver of short-stay visas constitutes simultaneously represents a culmination of the deepening of relations between the European Union and Palau which is politically highly significant in the context of the Cotonou Agreement – and is an additional way of stepping up economic and cultural relations and intensifying political dialogue on various issues, including human rights and fundamental freedoms.

On an economic level , the Agreement could have positive effects by simplifying travel for businesspeople, facilitating investment and boosting tourism. Palau’s economy is based primarily on the service sector, which accounts for 86 % of GDP, with a booming tourism sector, thanks also to the increase of the number of flights serving the island. Palau has one of the highest standards of living of the Pacific.

As regards investment and trade relations , these are currently unstable and low in terms of value and value and in relative terms, they have strong potential for development. The EU is currently negotiating Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with 14 Pacific countries, including Palau. Fishing, shellfish farming and tourism represent key development sector.

On a political level , Palau is a democratic republic completely committed to human rights, which are guaranteed under the Constitution. It has adopted legislation specifically relating to human trafficking and has become a member of the International Labour Organisation. The current political dialogue between the EU and Palau is focused on human rights and gender equality, and both parties are discussing how to collaborate more closely on these issues.

With regard to mobility , the information available indicates that confidence in visa applicants from Palau is high and that few visa applications are rejected, the rate of refusal of visas being low. In 2014, no nationals of Palau were arrested in the EU for being illegally resident, refused entry at the EU border or returned. No asylum applications were lodged by citizens of Palau. The country does not present any threat in terms either of irregular migration or of security and public policy.

As regards the implementation and monitoring of the agreement : the rapporteur:

called on the Commission to observe any developments in relation to the criteria on clandestine immigration, public policy and security, but also the Union’s external relations with the third countries concerned including, in particular, considerations relating to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; called on the Commission and the authorities of Palau to ensure full reciprocity of the visa waiver, which should permit equal treatment of all citizens, particularly all citizens of the Union. encouraged the Commission to review the composition of the joint management committees for future agreements in order for the European Parliament to be involved in the work of the Joint Committee.

Lastly, the rapporteur queries the practice of signing visa waiver agreements and applying them provisionally before the European Parliament has approved them. This practice is liable to reduce Parliament’s room for manoeuvre.

Documents
A8-0177/2016
2016/05/09
   EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
2016/02/29
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
PE573.185
2015/12/17
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
2015/10/26
   EP - Responsible Committee
2015/10/21
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short--stay visa waiver.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Commission has negotiated on behalf of the European Union an agreement with the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

The Agreement and the Protocol were signed in accordance with a Council Decision and apply on a provisional basis.

The Agreement and the Protocol should now be approved.

CONTENT: the draft Council decision aims to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver on behalf of the Union.

The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period.

Scope: the visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

The provisions of the Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom or to Ireland .

The Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement. The Union is to be represented within that Joint Committee by the Commission, which should be assisted by the representatives of the Member States.

Documents
12080/2015
2015/10/20
   CSL - Document attached to the procedure
Documents
12077/2015
2015/09/14
   EC - Document attached to the procedure
Documents
COM(2015)0431
EUR-Lex
2015/09/14
   EC - Initial legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council amended Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. The Regulation was adopted on 20 May 2014 and entered into force on 9 June 2014.

In July 2014, the Commission presented a Recommendation to the Council to authorise it to start negotiations on visa waiver agreements with each of the following 17 countries : Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu. On 9 October 2014, the Council addressed negotiating directives to the Commission

The negotiations with Palau were opened on 17 December 2014 and conducted by exchange of letters. During further exchanges agreement was reached on all aspects. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 27 May 2015 (Palau) and 10 June 2015 (Union) .

The Commission considered that the objectives set by the Council in its negotiating directives were attained and that the draft visa waiver agreement is acceptable to the Union.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver .

The content of the agreement may be summarised as follows:

Purpose and duration of stay : the agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period .

In order to safeguard equal treatment of all EU citizens, a provision has been included in the agreement stating that Palau may suspend or terminate the agreement only in respect of all the Member States of the European Union and that the Union may also only suspend or terminate the agreement in respect of all of its Member States.

The agreement takes into account the situation of the Member States that do not yet apply the Schengen acquis in full. As long as they are not part of the Schengen area without internal borders, the visa waiver confers a right for the nationals of Palau to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

Scope : the visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity . For this latter category, each Member State and also Palau remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law.

In order to ensure harmonised implementation, a joint declaration is attached to the agreement on the interpretation of the category of persons travelling for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

Territorial application : in the case of France and the Netherlands, the visa waiver would entitle nationals of Palau to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

The provisions of the Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement, which shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Documents
COM(2015)0430
EUR-Lex

Documents

Activities

Votes

A8-0177/2016 - Mariya Gabriel - approbation #

2016/06/08 Outcome: +: 587, -: 50, 0: 20
DE IT ES PL FR RO PT CZ HU BG BE NL GB SE FI HR LT AT SK IE SI EL DK LV LU MT CY EE
Total
87
62
47
47
68
26
21
20
19
17
18
24
47
18
11
11
10
18
10
9
8
18
13
7
6
6
5
4
icon: PPE PPE
193

Germany PPE

Abstain (1)

Dieter-Lebrecht KOCH
31

Italy PPE

13

Spain PPE

13

Poland PPE

21

France PPE

16

Romania PPE

9

Portugal PPE

7

Czechia PPE

7

Hungary PPE

11

Bulgaria PPE

7

Belgium PPE

4

Netherlands PPE

5

Sweden PPE

4

Finland PPE

3

Croatia PPE

5

Lithuania PPE

2

Austria PPE

5

Slovakia PPE

5

Ireland PPE

4

Slovenia PPE

5

Greece PPE

3

Denmark PPE

For (1)

Bendt BENDTSEN
1

Latvia PPE

4

Luxembourg PPE

3

Malta PPE

3

Cyprus PPE

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

Tunne KELAM
1
icon: S&D S&D
169

Germany S&D

23

Italy S&D

27

Spain S&D

12

Poland S&D

5

France S&D

13

Romania S&D

13

Portugal S&D

8

Czechia S&D

4

Hungary S&D

4

Bulgaria S&D

4

Belgium S&D

4

Netherlands S&D

3

United Kingdom S&D

17

Sweden S&D

4

Finland S&D

1

Croatia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Austria S&D

5

Slovakia S&D

3

Ireland S&D

For (1)

Nessa CHILDERS
1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

Tanja FAJON
1

Greece S&D

3

Denmark S&D

3

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

Mady DELVAUX
1

Malta S&D

3

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
62

Germany ALDE

3

Spain ALDE

7

France ALDE

7

Romania ALDE

2

Portugal ALDE

2

Czechia ALDE

4

Bulgaria ALDE

4

Belgium ALDE

4

Netherlands ALDE

7

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

3

Finland ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

2

Lithuania ALDE

3

Austria ALDE

For (1)

Angelika MLINAR
1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

Marian HARKIN
1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

Ivo VAJGL
1

Denmark ALDE

3

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

Charles GOERENS
1

Estonia ALDE

3
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
49

Germany GUE/NGL

8

Italy GUE/NGL

3

Spain GUE/NGL

11

France GUE/NGL

4

Portugal GUE/NGL

4

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

Anja HAZEKAMP

Against (1)

Anne-Marie MINEUR
2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

Malin BJÖRK
1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

Merja KYLLÖNEN
1

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Greece GUE/NGL

6

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

Rina Ronja KARI
1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
45

Germany Verts/ALE

12

Spain Verts/ALE

4

France Verts/ALE

5

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

For (1)

Bas EICKHOUT
1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Sweden Verts/ALE

4

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

Heidi HAUTALA
1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

Davor ŠKRLEC
1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

Bronis ROPĖ
1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

Igor ŠOLTES
1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

Margrete AUKEN
1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

Claude TURMES
1
icon: ECR ECR
59

Germany ECR

6

Italy ECR

2

Poland ECR

17

Romania ECR

For (1)

Monica MACOVEI
1

Czechia ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Belgium ECR

3

Netherlands ECR

2

United Kingdom ECR

12

Finland ECR

2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ
1

Lithuania ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

2

Greece ECR

Against (1)

Notis MARIAS
1

Denmark ECR

4

Latvia ECR

For (1)

Roberts ZĪLE
1
icon: EFDD EFDD
28

Germany EFDD

1

Italy EFDD

13

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

For (1)

Petr MACH
1

United Kingdom EFDD

9

Sweden EFDD

2

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

Rolandas PAKSAS
1
icon: NI NI
14

Germany NI

2

Poland NI

1

France NI

3

Hungary NI

2

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

Diane DODDS
1

Greece NI

5
icon: ENF ENF
38

Germany ENF

Against (1)

Marcus PRETZELL
1

Italy ENF

4

Poland ENF

2

France ENF

For (1)

Louis ALIOT
20

Romania ENF

Abstain (1)

Laurenţiu REBEGA
1

Belgium ENF

For (1)

Gerolf ANNEMANS
1

Netherlands ENF

4

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

Janice ATKINSON
1

Austria ENF

4

History

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

2020-01-19Show (6) Changes | Timetravel
committees/0
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shadows
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date
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type
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body
EC
docs
summary
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2016-0177&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2016-0177_EN.html
events/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0254
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2016-0254_EN.html
2019-07-06Show (15) Changes | Timetravel
activities
  • date: 2015-09-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2015/0430/COM_COM(2015)0430(ANN)_EN.pdf title: COM(2015)0430 type: Initial legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52015PC0430:EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/ title: Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner: AVRAMOPOULOS Dimitris type: Initial legislative proposal published
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  • date: 2016-06-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0254 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0254/2016 body: EP type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2016-09-20T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: General Affairs meeting_id: 3484
  • date: 2016-09-20T00:00:00 body: EP type: End of procedure in Parliament
  • date: 2016-09-20T00:00:00 body: EP/CSL type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
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commission
  • body: EC dg: Migration and Home Affairs commissioner: AVRAMOPOULOS Dimitris
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committees/0
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council
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docs
  • date: 2015-09-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2015/0431/COM_COM(2015)0431(ANN)_EN.pdf title: COM(2015)0431 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2015&nu_doc=0431 title: EUR-Lex type: Document attached to the procedure body: EC
  • date: 2015-10-20T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=12077%2F15&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 12077/2015 type: Document attached to the procedure body: CSL
  • date: 2016-02-29T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE573.185 title: PE573.185 type: Committee draft report body: EP
events
  • date: 2015-09-14T00:00:00 type: Initial legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2015/0430/COM_COM(2015)0430(ANN)_EN.pdf title: COM(2015)0430 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2015&nu_doc=0430 title: EUR-Lex summary: PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver. PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council amended Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. The Regulation was adopted on 20 May 2014 and entered into force on 9 June 2014. In July 2014, the Commission presented a Recommendation to the Council to authorise it to start negotiations on visa waiver agreements with each of the following 17 countries : Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu. On 9 October 2014, the Council addressed negotiating directives to the Commission The negotiations with Palau were opened on 17 December 2014 and conducted by exchange of letters. During further exchanges agreement was reached on all aspects. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 27 May 2015 (Palau) and 10 June 2015 (Union) . The Commission considered that the objectives set by the Council in its negotiating directives were attained and that the draft visa waiver agreement is acceptable to the Union. CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver . The content of the agreement may be summarised as follows: Purpose and duration of stay : the agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period . In order to safeguard equal treatment of all EU citizens, a provision has been included in the agreement stating that Palau may suspend or terminate the agreement only in respect of all the Member States of the European Union and that the Union may also only suspend or terminate the agreement in respect of all of its Member States. The agreement takes into account the situation of the Member States that do not yet apply the Schengen acquis in full. As long as they are not part of the Schengen area without internal borders, the visa waiver confers a right for the nationals of Palau to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area. Scope : the visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity . For this latter category, each Member State and also Palau remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. In order to ensure harmonised implementation, a joint declaration is attached to the agreement on the interpretation of the category of persons travelling for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity. Territorial application : in the case of France and the Netherlands, the visa waiver would entitle nationals of Palau to stay only in those Member States’ European territories. The provisions of the Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement, which shall adopt its rules of procedure.
  • date: 2015-10-21T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=12080%2F15&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 12080/2015 summary: PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short--stay visa waiver. PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: the Commission has negotiated on behalf of the European Union an agreement with the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver. The Agreement and the Protocol were signed in accordance with a Council Decision and apply on a provisional basis. The Agreement and the Protocol should now be approved. CONTENT: the draft Council decision aims to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver on behalf of the Union. The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period. Scope: the visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity. The provisions of the Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom or to Ireland . The Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement. The Union is to be represented within that Joint Committee by the Commission, which should be assisted by the representatives of the Member States.
  • date: 2015-12-17T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2016-05-09T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2016-05-18T00:00:00 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=A8-2016-0177&language=EN title: A8-0177/2016 summary: The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Mariya GABRIEL (EPP, BG) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver. The committee recommended that the European Parliament should give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement. To recall, the Agreement signed on 7 December 2015 provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period . The visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity. The report is accompanied by a short justification stipulating that this Agreement on the waiver of short-stay visas constitutes simultaneously represents a culmination of the deepening of relations between the European Union and Palau which is politically highly significant in the context of the Cotonou Agreement – and is an additional way of stepping up economic and cultural relations and intensifying political dialogue on various issues, including human rights and fundamental freedoms. On an economic level , the Agreement could have positive effects by simplifying travel for businesspeople, facilitating investment and boosting tourism. Palau’s economy is based primarily on the service sector, which accounts for 86 % of GDP, with a booming tourism sector, thanks also to the increase of the number of flights serving the island. Palau has one of the highest standards of living of the Pacific. As regards investment and trade relations , these are currently unstable and low in terms of value and value and in relative terms, they have strong potential for development. The EU is currently negotiating Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with 14 Pacific countries, including Palau. Fishing, shellfish farming and tourism represent key development sector. On a political level , Palau is a democratic republic completely committed to human rights, which are guaranteed under the Constitution. It has adopted legislation specifically relating to human trafficking and has become a member of the International Labour Organisation. The current political dialogue between the EU and Palau is focused on human rights and gender equality, and both parties are discussing how to collaborate more closely on these issues. With regard to mobility , the information available indicates that confidence in visa applicants from Palau is high and that few visa applications are rejected, the rate of refusal of visas being low. In 2014, no nationals of Palau were arrested in the EU for being illegally resident, refused entry at the EU border or returned. No asylum applications were lodged by citizens of Palau. The country does not present any threat in terms either of irregular migration or of security and public policy. As regards the implementation and monitoring of the agreement : the rapporteur: called on the Commission to observe any developments in relation to the criteria on clandestine immigration, public policy and security, but also the Union’s external relations with the third countries concerned including, in particular, considerations relating to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; called on the Commission and the authorities of Palau to ensure full reciprocity of the visa waiver, which should permit equal treatment of all citizens, particularly all citizens of the Union. encouraged the Commission to review the composition of the joint management committees for future agreements in order for the European Parliament to be involved in the work of the Joint Committee. Lastly, the rapporteur queries the practice of signing visa waiver agreements and applying them provisionally before the European Parliament has approved them. This practice is liable to reduce Parliament’s room for manoeuvre.
  • date: 2016-06-08T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=27260&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2016-06-08T00:00:00 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=P8-TA-2016-0254 title: T8-0254/2016 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 587 votes to 50 with 20 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver. In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement. The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period . The visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity. The provisions of the Agreement shall not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland.
  • date: 2016-09-20T00:00:00 type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament body: EP/CSL
  • date: 2016-09-20T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
  • date: 2016-09-30T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal summary: PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver. NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2016/1741 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short--stay visa waiver. CONTENT: with this Decision, the Agreement between the European Union and Palau on the short-stay visa waiver is approved on behalf of the Union. To recall, the Commission negotiated on behalf of the European Union an Agreement with Palau on the short-stay visa waiver. This Agreement was signed and is applied on a provisional basis since 8 December 2015. The agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period . A joint declaration on the interpretation of this period is attached to the agreement. The visa waiver covers all categories of persons (holders of ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passports) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity . For this latter category, each Member State and Palau remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. In order to ensure harmonised implementation, a joint declaration is attached to the agreement on the interpretation of the category of persons travelling for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity. The Member States and Palau reserve the right to refuse entry into and short stay in their territories if one or more of these conditions is not met. The Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement. The Union is to be represented within that Joint Committee by the Commission, which should be assisted by the representatives of the Member States. This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom and Ireland do not take part. Therefore, these two countries are not bound by it or subject to its application. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20.9.2016. docs: title: Decision 2016/1741 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32016D1741 title: OJ L 264 30.09.2016, p. 0021 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2016:264:TOC
links
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  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/ title: Migration and Home Affairs commissioner: AVRAMOPOULOS Dimitris
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Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
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  • LIBE/8/04511
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  • 6.40.09 Relations with Oceanian countries
  • 7.10.04 External borders crossing and controls, visas
New
6.40.09
Relations with Oceanian countries
7.10.04
External borders crossing and controls, visas
2016-10-02Show (3) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-09-30T00:00:00
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2016-09-29Show (4) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-06-22Show (4) Changes | Timetravel
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HYUSMENOVA Filiz
activities/3/committees/1/shadows/2
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ALDE
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HYUSMENOVA Filiz
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HYUSMENOVA Filiz
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2016-06-17Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
activities/5/docs/0/text

  • The European Parliament adopted by 587 votes to 50 with 20 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

    In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

    The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

    The provisions of the Agreement shall not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland.
2016-06-10Show (3) Changes | Timetravel
activities/5/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0254 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0254/2016
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Awaiting final decision
2016-06-05Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
activities/4/docs/0/text

  • The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Mariya GABRIEL (EPP, BG) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

    The committee recommended that the European Parliament should give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

    To recall, the Agreement signed on 7 December 2015 provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

    The report is accompanied by a short justification stipulating that this Agreement on the waiver of short-stay visas constitutes simultaneously represents a culmination of the deepening of relations between the European Union and Palau which is politically highly significant in the context of the Cotonou Agreement – and is an additional way of stepping up economic and cultural relations and intensifying political dialogue on various issues, including human rights and fundamental freedoms.

    On an economic level, the Agreement could have positive effects by simplifying travel for businesspeople, facilitating investment and boosting tourism. Palau’s economy is based primarily on the service sector, which accounts for 86 % of GDP, with a booming tourism sector, thanks also to the increase of the number of flights serving the island. Palau has one of the highest standards of living of the Pacific.

    As regards investment and trade relations, these are currently unstable and low in terms of value and value and in relative terms, they have strong potential for development. The EU is currently negotiating Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with 14 Pacific countries, including Palau. Fishing, shellfish farming and tourism represent key development sector.

    On a political level, Palau is a democratic republic completely committed to human rights, which are guaranteed under the Constitution. It has adopted legislation specifically relating to human trafficking and has become a member of the International Labour Organisation. The current political dialogue between the EU and Palau is focused on human rights and gender equality, and both parties are discussing how to collaborate more closely on these issues.

    With regard to mobility, the information available indicates that confidence in visa applicants from Palau is high and that few visa applications are rejected, the rate of refusal of visas being low. In 2014, no nationals of Palau were arrested in the EU for being illegally resident, refused entry at the EU border or returned. No asylum applications were lodged by citizens of Palau. The country does not present any threat in terms either of irregular migration or of security and public policy.

    As regards the implementation and monitoring of the agreement: the rapporteur:

    • called on the Commission to observe any developments in relation to the criteria on clandestine immigration, public policy and security, but also the Union’s external relations with the third countries concerned including, in particular, considerations relating to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
    • called on the Commission and the authorities of Palau to ensure full reciprocity of the visa waiver, which should permit equal treatment of all citizens, particularly all citizens of the Union.
    • encouraged the Commission to review the composition of the joint management committees for future agreements in order for the European Parliament to be involved in the work of the Joint Committee.

    Lastly, the rapporteur queries the practice of signing visa waiver agreements and applying them provisionally before the European Parliament has approved them. This practice is liable to reduce Parliament’s room for manoeuvre.
2016-05-28Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
activities/5/type
Old
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2016-05-26Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-05-19Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-05-12Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-04-29Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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Old
2016-05-26T00:00:00
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2016-06-08T00:00:00
2016-04-07Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-01-12Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
activities/1/docs/0/text

  • PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short--stay visa waiver.

    PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

    ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

    BACKGROUND: the Commission has negotiated on behalf of the European Union an agreement with the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

    The Agreement and the Protocol were signed in accordance with a Council Decision and apply on a provisional basis.

    The Agreement and the Protocol should now be approved.

    CONTENT: the draft Council decision aims to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver on behalf of the Union.

    The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period.

    Scope: the visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity. 

    The provisions of the Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom or to Ireland.

    The Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement. The Union is to be represented within that Joint Committee by the Commission, which should be assisted by the representatives of the Member States.
2016-01-06Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
activities/0/docs/0/text

  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

    PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

    ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

    BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council amended Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. The Regulation was adopted on 20 May 2014 and entered into force on 9 June 2014.

    In July 2014, the Commission presented a Recommendation to the Council to authorise it to start negotiations on visa waiver agreements with each of the following 17 countries: Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu. On 9 October 2014, the Council addressed negotiating directives to the Commission

    The negotiations with Palau were opened on 17 December 2014 and conducted by exchange of letters. During further exchanges agreement was reached on all aspects. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 27 May 2015 (Palau) and 10 June 2015 (Union).

    The Commission considered that the objectives set by the Council in its negotiating directives were attained and that the draft visa waiver agreement is acceptable to the Union.

    CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

    The content of the agreement may be summarised as follows:

    Purpose and duration of stay: the agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period.

    In order to safeguard equal treatment of all EU citizens, a provision has been included in the agreement stating that Palau may suspend or terminate the agreement only in respect of all the Member States of the European Union and that the Union may also only suspend or terminate the agreement in respect of all of its Member States.

    The agreement takes into account the situation of the Member States that do not yet apply the Schengen acquis in full. As long as they are not part of the Schengen area without internal borders, the visa waiver confers a right for the nationals of Palau to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

    Scope: the visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity. For this latter category, each Member State and also Palau remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law.

    In order to ensure harmonised implementation, a joint declaration is attached to the agreement on the interpretation of the category of persons travelling for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

    Territorial application: in the case of France and the Netherlands, the visa waiver would entitle nationals of Palau to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

    The provisions of the Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

    The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement, which shall adopt its rules of procedure.

2015-12-23Show (3) Changes | Timetravel
activities/2
date
2015-12-17T00:00:00
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EP
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LIBE/8/04511
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Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
Awaiting committee decision
2015-12-16Show (4) Changes | Timetravel
activities/0/docs/0/text

  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

    PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

    ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

    BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council amended Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. The Regulation was adopted on 20 May 2014 and entered into force on 9 June 2014.

    In July 2014, the Commission presented a Recommendation to the Council to authorise it to start negotiations on visa waiver agreements with each of the following 17 countries: Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu. On 9 October 2014, the Council addressed negotiating directives to the Commission

    The negotiations with Palau were opened on 17 December 2014 and conducted by exchange of letters. During further exchanges agreement was reached on all aspects. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 27 May 2015 (Palau) and 10 June 2015 (Union).

    The Commission considered that the objectives set by the Council in its negotiating directives were attained and that the draft visa waiver agreement is acceptable to the Union.

    CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver.

    The content of the agreement may be summarised as follows:

    Purpose and duration of stay: the agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Palau when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period.

    In order to safeguard equal treatment of all EU citizens, a provision has been included in the agreement stating that Palau may suspend or terminate the agreement only in respect of all the Member States of the European Union and that the Union may also only suspend or terminate the agreement in respect of all of its Member States.

    The agreement takes into account the situation of the Member States that do not yet apply the Schengen acquis in full. As long as they are not part of the Schengen area without internal borders, the visa waiver confers a right for the nationals of Palau to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

    Scope: the visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity. For this latter category, each Member State and also Palau remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law.

    In order to ensure harmonised implementation, a joint declaration is attached to the agreement on the interpretation of the category of persons travelling for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

    Territorial application: in the case of France and the Netherlands, the visa waiver would entitle nationals of Palau to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

    The provisions of the Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

    The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement, which shall adopt its rules of procedure.
activities/0/docs/0/type
Old
Legislative proposal published
New
Initial legislative proposal published
activities/0/type
Old
Legislative proposal published
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Initial legislative proposal published
activities/1
date
2015-10-21T00:00:00
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url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=12080%2F15&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC type: Legislative proposal published title: 12080/2015
type
Legislative proposal published
body
EC
commission
DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/ title: Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner: AVRAMOPOULOS Dimitris
2015-11-26Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
committees/1/shadows
  • group: S&D name: GUILLAUME Sylvie
  • group: ECR name: STEVENS Helga
  • group: ALDE name: MICHEL Louis
  • group: GUE/NGL name: VERGIAT Marie-Christine
  • group: Verts/ALE name: VALERO Bodil
2015-11-17Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
committees/1/date
2015-10-26T00:00:00
committees/1/rapporteur
  • group: EPP name: GABRIEL Mariya
2015-11-04Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
CELEX:52015PC0430:EN
2015-11-04Show (5) Changes
activities
  • date: 2015-09-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2015/0430/COM_COM(2015)0430(ANN)_EN.pdf type: Legislative proposal published title: COM(2015)0430 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/ title: Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner: AVRAMOPOULOS Dimitris
committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET
  • body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee: LIBE
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/ title: Migration and Home Affairs commissioner: AVRAMOPOULOS Dimitris
procedure
geographical_area
Palau
reference
2015/0193(NLE)
title
EU/Palau Agreement: short-stay visa waiver
legal_basis
stage_reached
Preparatory phase in Parliament
subtype
Consent by Parliament
type
NLE - Non-legislative enactments
subject
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