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2016/0103(NLE) EU/Marshall Islands Agreement: short-stay visa waiver

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead LIBE GABRIEL Mariya (icon: PPE PPE) DALLI Miriam (icon: S&D S&D), STEVENS Helga (icon: ECR ECR), HYUSMENOVA Filiz (icon: ALDE ALDE), VALERO Bodil (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), VON STORCH Beatrix (icon: EFDD EFDD)
Committee Opinion AFET
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 077-p2, TFEU 218-p6a

Events

2017/02/11
   Final act published in Official Journal
Details

PURPOSE: to approve the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

NON LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2017/233 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

CONTENT: the Council approved the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver , on behalf of the Union.

To recall, the Commission negotiated on behalf of the Union an agreement with the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver. This Agreement was signed and was provisionally applied from 28 June 2016.

The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the Union and for the citizens of the Marshall Islands 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 .

For those travelling to carry out a paid activity, each Member State and also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. Member States and the Marshall Islands have reserved the right to prevent a person entering their respective territories or making a short stay there, if one or several conditions relating to short stay or entry are not fulfilled.

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 will be assisted by the representatives of the Member States.

The Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen a cquis in which the United Kingdom and Ireland do not take part. The latter two Member States are therefore not taking part in the adoption of the Decision and are not bound by it or subject to its application.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 7.2.2017.

Documents
Decision 2017/233
OJ L 036 11.02.2017, p. 0003
2017/02/07
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
2017/02/07
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2017/02/07
   CSL - Council Meeting
2016/12/01
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
Documents
Results of vote in Parliament
2016/12/01
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 560 votes to 53, with 27 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 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 the Marshall Islands 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
T8-0463/2016
2016/11/15
   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 Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

To recall, the agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of the Marshall Islands 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 agreement was signed on 27 June 2016 in Brussels. Since that date, the agreement has been applied provisionally.

The report is accompanied by a short justification stating that the agreement represents a culmination of the deepening of relations between the European Union and the Marshall Islands - 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.

In economic terms , the visa waiver agreement could have positive effects by simplifying travel for businesspeople, facilitating investment and boosting tourism. The economy of the Republic of Marshall Islands is based primarily on the service sector as well as some fishing and agriculture. The Marshall Islands has few natural resources and imports far exceed exports. While EU trade relations with the Republic of Marshall Islands are very limited, they have potential for development. The EU is currently negotiating a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with fourteen Pacific countries, including the Republic of Marshall Islands. The Rapporteur notes that the visa waiver agreement reaffirms Union’s commitment to strengthen partnership with the country. Politically, the Marshall Islands is a stable presidential democracy in free association with the U.S. The Union's political dialogue with the Marshall Islands focuses on protecting its vulnerable environment, especially in relation to climate change on the one hand and on defending human rights and gender issues on the other hand. In this context, the agreement represents a significant step towards more regular and enhanced political dialogue. With regard to mobility , the information available indicates that confidence in visa applicants is high and the rate of refusal of visas is low. In 2014 and 2015, no nationals of the Marshall Islands were arrested for being illegally present in the EU and there has been no refusal of entry at the EU external border or return decision concerning Marshall Islands nationals. Furthermore, no asylum applications have been submitted by nationals of the Marshall Islands. In this context, the country does not represent any threat in terms either of irregular migration or of security and public order.

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

called on the Commission to observe any developments in relation to issues of 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 the Marshall Islands 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 so that Parliament might be involved in the work of the Joint Committee.

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

Documents
A8-0335/2016
2016/11/08
   EP - Vote in committee
2016/09/28
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
PE583.930
2016/07/07
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2016/06/24
   CSL - Council Meeting
2016/06/20
   CSL - Legislative proposal
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 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 which lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

The Regulation, adopted on 20 May 2014, entered into force on 9 June 2014. It is applied by all Member States, with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

In July 2014, the Commission presented a Recommendation to the Council to authorise it to start negotiations on visa waiver agreements with 17 countries including the Marshall Islands.

The first series of visa waiver agreements were signed on 6 May 2015 (United Arab Emirates), 26 May 2015 (Timor-Leste) and 28 May 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu) and provisionally apply from the date of signature pending their entry into force.

The Council has authorised the signature of a second series of visa waiver agreements with Tonga (signed on 20 November 2015), Colombia (signed on 2 December 2015), Kiribati (date of signature to be determined) and Palau (signed on 7 December 2015).

The negotiations with the Marshall Islands were opened on 17 December 2014 and conducted by exchange of letters. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 11 December 2015 (Marshall Islands) and 13 January 2016 (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 proposed that the Council adopt a decision to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

The final content of it can be summarised as follows:

Purpose and duration of the Agreement : the Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of the Marshall Islands 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 of 90 days in any 180-day period is attached to the agreement.

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 the Marshall Islands to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (currently Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

A provision has been included stating that the Marshall Islands 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.

Scope : 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 also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

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

A joint declaration on the association of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is attached to the proposal.

Lastly, the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement.

Documents
09775/2016
2016/06/20
   CSL - Document attached to the procedure
Documents
09774/2016
2016/06/19
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 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 which lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

The Regulation, adopted on 20 May 2014, entered into force on 9 June 2014. It is applied by all Member States, with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

In July 2014, the Commission presented a Recommendation to the Council to authorise it to start negotiations on visa waiver agreements with 17 countries including the Marshall Islands.

The first series of visa waiver agreements were signed on 6 May 2015 (United Arab Emirates), 26 May 2015 (Timor-Leste) and 28 May 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu) and provisionally apply from the date of signature pending their entry into force.

The Council has authorised the signature of a second series of visa waiver agreements with Tonga (signed on 20 November 2015), Colombia (signed on 2 December 2015), Kiribati (date of signature to be determined) and Palau (signed on 7 December 2015).

The negotiations with the Marshall Islands were opened on 17 December 2014 and conducted by exchange of letters. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 11 December 2015 (Marshall Islands) and 13 January 2016 (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 proposed that the Council adopt a decision to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

The final content of it can be summarised as follows:

Purpose and duration of the Agreement : the Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of the Marshall Islands 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 of 90 days in any 180-day period is attached to the agreement.

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 the Marshall Islands to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (currently Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

A provision has been included stating that the Marshall Islands 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.

Scope : 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 also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

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

A joint declaration on the association of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is attached to the proposal.

Lastly, the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement.

Documents
09775/2016
2016/05/23
   EP - GABRIEL Mariya (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in LIBE
2016/04/08
   EC - Document attached to the procedure
Documents
COM(2016)0186
EUR-Lex
2016/04/08
   EP - Preparatory document
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands 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 a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 was adopted on 20 May 2014 and entered into force on 9 June 2014. It is applied by all Member States with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

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 .

The first series of visa waiver agreements were signed on 6 May 2015 (United Arab Emirates), 26 May 2015 (Timor-Leste) and 28 May 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu) and provisionally apply from the date of signature pending their entry into force. The Council has authorised the signature of a second series of visa waiver agreements with Tonga (signed on 20 November 2015), Colombia (signed on 2 December 2015), Kiribati (date of signature to be determined) and Palau (signed on 7 December 2015). These four agreements provisionally apply from the day following the date of signature pending their entry into force.

The negotiations with the Marshall Islands were opened on 17 December 2014. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 11 December 2015 (Marshall Islands) and 13 January 2016 (Union).

The Commission considers 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 calls on the Council to adopt a decision aiming to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver .

The final 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 the Marshall Islands 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 of 90 days in any 180-day period is attached to the agreement.

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 the Marshall Islands to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (currently Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

A provision has been included in the agreement stating that the Marshall Islands 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.

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 those travelling to carry out a paid activity, each Member State and also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

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

A joint declaration on the association of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is annexed to the agreement.

Lastly, the Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement.

Documents
COM(2016)0188
EUR-Lex

Documents

Activities

Votes

A8-0335/2016 - Mariya Gabriel - Approbation #

2016/12/01 Outcome: +: 560, -: 53, 0: 27
DE IT PL ES FR RO PT CZ BE BG HU FI SE NL SK GB HR IE LT DK SI EL LV AT EE MT LU CY
Total
80
65
49
41
61
23
20
17
21
16
16
13
16
22
12
59
11
10
9
9
8
18
7
15
6
6
5
4
icon: PPE PPE
186

Germany PPE

31

Italy PPE

12

Poland PPE

22

Spain PPE

14

France PPE

18

Romania PPE

10

Portugal PPE

7

Czechia PPE

5

Belgium PPE

4

Bulgaria PPE

7

Hungary PPE

10

Finland PPE

3

Sweden PPE

2

Netherlands PPE

4

Slovakia PPE

5

Croatia PPE

5

Ireland PPE

4

Lithuania PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

5

Greece PPE

3

Latvia PPE

3

Austria PPE

4

Estonia PPE

For (1)

Tunne KELAM
1

Malta PPE

3

Luxembourg PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
162

Germany S&D

21

Italy S&D

27

Poland S&D

5

Spain S&D

11

France S&D

10

Romania S&D

8

Portugal S&D

8

Czechia S&D

4

Belgium S&D

4

Bulgaria S&D

Abstain (1)

Momchil NEKOV
3

Hungary S&D

4

Finland S&D

2

Sweden S&D

6

Netherlands S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

4

United Kingdom S&D

19

Croatia S&D

2

Ireland S&D

For (1)

Nessa CHILDERS
1

Lithuania S&D

2

Denmark S&D

3

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

Tanja FAJON
1

Greece S&D

4

Latvia S&D

1

Austria S&D

3

Estonia S&D

For (1)

Marju LAURISTIN
1

Malta S&D

3

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

Mady DELVAUX
1

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
63

Germany ALDE

3

Spain ALDE

6

France ALDE

6

Romania ALDE

3

Portugal ALDE

2

Czechia ALDE

4

Belgium ALDE

6

Bulgaria ALDE

4

Finland ALDE

4

Sweden ALDE

2

Netherlands ALDE

6

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Croatia ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

Marian HARKIN
1

Lithuania ALDE

3

Denmark ALDE

3

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

Ivo VAJGL
1

Latvia ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

Angelika MLINAR
1

Estonia ALDE

3

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

Charles GOERENS
1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
42

Germany Verts/ALE

12

Spain Verts/ALE

3

France Verts/ALE

4

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

For (1)

Benedek JÁVOR
1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

Heidi HAUTALA
1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

Davor ŠKRLEC
1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

Bronis ROPĖ
1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

Igor ŠOLTES
1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

Indrek TARAND
1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

Claude TURMES
1
icon: ECR ECR
65

Germany ECR

6

Italy ECR

2

Poland ECR

18

Romania ECR

For (1)

Monica MACOVEI
1

Czechia ECR

2

Belgium ECR

4

Bulgaria ECR

2

Finland ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

2

Slovakia ECR

3

United Kingdom ECR

17

Croatia ECR

For (1)

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ
1

Denmark ECR

2

Greece ECR

Against (1)

Notis MARIAS
1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

Roberts ZĪLE
1

Cyprus ECR

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
38

Germany GUE/NGL

4

Italy GUE/NGL

3

Spain GUE/NGL

7

France GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

Merja KYLLÖNEN
1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

Malin BJÖRK
1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

Anja HAZEKAMP
3

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

4

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

Rina Ronja KARI
1

Greece GUE/NGL

5

Cyprus GUE/NGL

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
34

Germany EFDD

Abstain (1)

Beatrix von STORCH
1

Italy EFDD

16

Poland EFDD

1

France EFDD

1

Sweden EFDD

2

United Kingdom EFDD

12

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

Rolandas PAKSAS
1
icon: NI NI
14

Germany NI

1

Italy NI

1

Poland NI

1

France NI

Against (1)

Bruno GOLLNISCH
2

Hungary NI

Against (1)

Zoltán BALCZÓ
1

United Kingdom NI

Against (2)

Diane JAMES, Steven WOOLFE

Abstain (1)

Diane DODDS
3

Greece NI

5
icon: ENF ENF
35

Germany ENF

Against (1)

Marcus PRETZELL
1

Italy ENF

Abstain (1)

Mario BORGHEZIO
4

Poland ENF

2

France ENF

18

Romania ENF

Against (1)

Laurenţiu REBEGA
1

Belgium ENF

Abstain (1)

Gerolf ANNEMANS
1

Netherlands ENF

3

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)

2023-08-03Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
docs/1
date
2016-06-20T00:00:00
docs
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2016-06-20T00:00:00
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2021-12-18Show (9) Changes | Timetravel
committees/0/shadows/3
name
VERGIAT Marie-Christine
group
European United Left - Nordic Green Left
abbr
GUE/NGL
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE583.930
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events/2/type
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New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/3/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
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Vote in committee
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Old
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New
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events/6
date
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type
Decision by Parliament
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EP
docs
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summary
events/6
date
2016-12-01T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
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summary
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
2020-01-19Show (6) Changes | Timetravel
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
committee
LIBE
rapporteur
name: GABRIEL Mariya date: 2016-05-23T00:00:00 group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
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committee
LIBE
date
2016-05-23T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: GABRIEL Mariya group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
shadows
events/0
date
2016-04-08T00:00:00
type
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body
EP
docs
summary
events/0
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2016-04-08T00:00:00
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EC
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2019-07-06Show (15) Changes | Timetravel
activities
  • date: 2016-04-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2016/0188/COM_COM(2016)0188_EN.pdf title: COM(2016)0188 type: Initial legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52016PC0188:EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/migration-and-home-affairs_en title: Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner: AVRAMOPOULOS Dimitris type: Initial legislative proposal published
  • date: 2016-06-20T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=9775%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC type: Legislative proposal published title: 09775/2016 body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/migration-and-home-affairs_en title: Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner: AVRAMOPOULOS Dimitris type: Legislative proposal published
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  • date: 2016-11-08T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET body: EP shadows: group: S&D name: DALLI Miriam group: ECR name: STEVENS Helga group: ALDE name: HYUSMENOVA Filiz group: GUE/NGL name: VERGIAT Marie-Christine group: Verts/ALE name: VALERO Bodil group: EFD name: VON STORCH Beatrix responsible: True committee: LIBE date: 2016-05-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs rapporteur: group: EPP name: GABRIEL Mariya
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  • date: 2016-12-01T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=27822&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=P8-TA-2016-0463 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0463/2016 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2017-02-07T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: General Affairs meeting_id: 3517
  • date: 2017-02-07T00:00:00 body: EP type: End of procedure in Parliament
  • date: 2017-02-07T00:00:00 body: EP/CSL type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
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  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: General Affairs meeting_id: 3478 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=3478*&MEET_DATE=24/06/2016 date: 2016-06-24T00:00:00
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  • date: 2016-04-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2016/0186/COM_COM(2016)0186_EN.pdf title: COM(2016)0186 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2016&nu_doc=0186 title: EUR-Lex type: Document attached to the procedure body: EC
  • date: 2016-06-20T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=9774%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 09774/2016 type: Document attached to the procedure body: CSL
  • date: 2016-09-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE583.930 title: PE583.930 type: Committee draft report body: EP
events
  • date: 2016-04-08T00:00:00 type: Initial legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2016/0188/COM_COM(2016)0188_EN.pdf title: COM(2016)0188 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2016&nu_doc=0188 title: EUR-Lex summary: PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands 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 a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 was adopted on 20 May 2014 and entered into force on 9 June 2014. It is applied by all Member States with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom. 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 . The first series of visa waiver agreements were signed on 6 May 2015 (United Arab Emirates), 26 May 2015 (Timor-Leste) and 28 May 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu) and provisionally apply from the date of signature pending their entry into force. The Council has authorised the signature of a second series of visa waiver agreements with Tonga (signed on 20 November 2015), Colombia (signed on 2 December 2015), Kiribati (date of signature to be determined) and Palau (signed on 7 December 2015). These four agreements provisionally apply from the day following the date of signature pending their entry into force. The negotiations with the Marshall Islands were opened on 17 December 2014. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 11 December 2015 (Marshall Islands) and 13 January 2016 (Union). The Commission considers 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 calls on the Council to adopt a decision aiming to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver . The final 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 the Marshall Islands 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 of 90 days in any 180-day period is attached to the agreement. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (currently Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area. A provision has been included in the agreement stating that the Marshall Islands 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. 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 those travelling to carry out a paid activity, each Member State and also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay only in those Member States’ European territories. The provisions of the Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom or to Ireland. A joint declaration on the association of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is annexed to the agreement. Lastly, the Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement.
  • date: 2016-06-20T00:00:00 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=9775%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 09775/2016 summary: PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 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 which lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. The Regulation, adopted on 20 May 2014, entered into force on 9 June 2014. It is applied by all Member States, with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom. In July 2014, the Commission presented a Recommendation to the Council to authorise it to start negotiations on visa waiver agreements with 17 countries including the Marshall Islands. The first series of visa waiver agreements were signed on 6 May 2015 (United Arab Emirates), 26 May 2015 (Timor-Leste) and 28 May 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu) and provisionally apply from the date of signature pending their entry into force. The Council has authorised the signature of a second series of visa waiver agreements with Tonga (signed on 20 November 2015), Colombia (signed on 2 December 2015), Kiribati (date of signature to be determined) and Palau (signed on 7 December 2015). The negotiations with the Marshall Islands were opened on 17 December 2014 and conducted by exchange of letters. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 11 December 2015 (Marshall Islands) and 13 January 2016 (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 proposed that the Council adopt a decision to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver. The final content of it can be summarised as follows: Purpose and duration of the Agreement : the Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of the Marshall Islands 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 of 90 days in any 180-day period is attached to the agreement. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (currently Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area. A provision has been included stating that the Marshall Islands 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. Scope : 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 also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay only in those Member States’ European territories. The provisions of the Agreement shall not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland . A joint declaration on the association of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is attached to the proposal. Lastly, the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement.
  • date: 2016-07-07T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2016-11-08T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2016-11-15T00:00:00 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=A8-2016-0335&language=EN title: A8-0335/2016 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 Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver. To recall, the agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of the Marshall Islands 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 agreement was signed on 27 June 2016 in Brussels. Since that date, the agreement has been applied provisionally. The report is accompanied by a short justification stating that the agreement represents a culmination of the deepening of relations between the European Union and the Marshall Islands - 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. In economic terms , the visa waiver agreement could have positive effects by simplifying travel for businesspeople, facilitating investment and boosting tourism. The economy of the Republic of Marshall Islands is based primarily on the service sector as well as some fishing and agriculture. The Marshall Islands has few natural resources and imports far exceed exports. While EU trade relations with the Republic of Marshall Islands are very limited, they have potential for development. The EU is currently negotiating a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with fourteen Pacific countries, including the Republic of Marshall Islands. The Rapporteur notes that the visa waiver agreement reaffirms Union’s commitment to strengthen partnership with the country. Politically, the Marshall Islands is a stable presidential democracy in free association with the U.S. The Union's political dialogue with the Marshall Islands focuses on protecting its vulnerable environment, especially in relation to climate change on the one hand and on defending human rights and gender issues on the other hand. In this context, the agreement represents a significant step towards more regular and enhanced political dialogue. With regard to mobility , the information available indicates that confidence in visa applicants is high and the rate of refusal of visas is low. In 2014 and 2015, no nationals of the Marshall Islands were arrested for being illegally present in the EU and there has been no refusal of entry at the EU external border or return decision concerning Marshall Islands nationals. Furthermore, no asylum applications have been submitted by nationals of the Marshall Islands. In this context, the country does not represent any threat in terms either of irregular migration or of security and public order. As regards the implementation and monitoring of the agreement , the rapporteur: called on the Commission to observe any developments in relation to issues of 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 the Marshall Islands 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 so that Parliament might be involved in the work of the Joint Committee. Lastly, the rapporteur also queried the practice of signing visa waiver agreements and applying them provisionally before the European Parliament has approved them, a practice that is liable to reduce Parliament’s room for manoeuvre.
  • date: 2016-12-01T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=27822&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2016-12-01T00:00:00 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-2016-0463 title: T8-0463/2016 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 560 votes to 53, with 27 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 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 the Marshall Islands 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: 2017-02-07T00:00:00 type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament body: EP/CSL
  • date: 2017-02-07T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
  • date: 2017-02-11T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal summary: PURPOSE: to approve the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver. NON LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2017/233 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver. CONTENT: the Council approved the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver , on behalf of the Union. To recall, the Commission negotiated on behalf of the Union an agreement with the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver. This Agreement was signed and was provisionally applied from 28 June 2016. The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the Union and for the citizens of the Marshall Islands 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 . For those travelling to carry out a paid activity, each Member State and also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. Member States and the Marshall Islands have reserved the right to prevent a person entering their respective territories or making a short stay there, if one or several conditions relating to short stay or entry are not fulfilled. 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 will be assisted by the representatives of the Member States. The Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen a cquis in which the United Kingdom and Ireland do not take part. The latter two Member States are therefore not taking part in the adoption of the Decision and are not bound by it or subject to its application. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 7.2.2017. docs: title: Decision 2017/233 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32017D0233 title: OJ L 036 11.02.2017, p. 0003 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2017:036:TOC
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2017-03-22Show (5) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-12-22Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
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  • The European Parliament adopted by 560 votes to 53, with 27 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 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 the Marshall Islands 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.
committees/1/shadows
  • group: S&D name: DALLI Miriam
  • group: ECR name: STEVENS Helga
  • group: ALDE name: HYUSMENOVA Filiz
  • group: GUE/NGL name: VERGIAT Marie-Christine
  • group: Verts/ALE name: VALERO Bodil
  • group: EFD name: VON STORCH Beatrix
2016-12-03Show (3) Changes | Timetravel
activities/6/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0463 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0463/2016
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2016-11-26Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
activities/5/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 Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

    To recall, the agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of the Marshall Islandswhen 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 agreement was signed on 27 June 2016 in Brussels. Since that date, the agreement has been applied provisionally.

    The report is accompanied by a short justification stating that the agreement represents a culmination of the deepening of relations between the European Union and the Marshall Islands- 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.

    • In economic terms, the visa waiver agreement could have positive effects by simplifying travel for businesspeople, facilitating investment and boosting tourism. The economy of the Republic of Marshall Islands is based primarily on the service sector as well as some fishing and agriculture. The Marshall Islands has few natural resources and imports far exceed exports. While EU trade relations with the Republic of Marshall Islands are very limited, they have potential for development. The EU is currently negotiating a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with fourteen Pacific countries, including the Republic of Marshall Islands. The Rapporteur notes that the visa waiver agreement reaffirms Union’s commitment to strengthen partnership with the country.
    • Politically, the Marshall Islands is a stable presidential democracy in free association with the U.S. The Union's political dialogue with the Marshall Islands focuses on protecting its vulnerable environment, especially in relation to climate change on the one hand and on defending human rights and gender issues on the other hand. In this context, the agreement represents a significant step towards more regular and enhanced political dialogue.
    • With regard to mobility, the information available indicates that confidence in visa applicants is high and the rate of refusal of visas is low. In 2014 and 2015, no nationals of the Marshall Islands were arrested for being illegally present in the EU and there has been no refusal of entry at the EU external border or return decision concerning Marshall Islands nationals. Furthermore, no asylum applications have been submitted by nationals of the Marshall Islands. In this context, the country does not represent any threat in terms either of irregular migration or of security and public order.

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

    • called on the Commission to observe any developments in relation to issues of 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 the Marshall Islands 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 so that Parliament might be involved in the work of the Joint Committee. 

    Lastly, the rapporteur also queried the practice of signing visa waiver agreements and applying them provisionally before the European Parliament has approved them, a practice that is liable to reduce Parliament’s room for manoeuvre.
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2016-11-22Show (5) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-09-08Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
activities/0/docs/0/text

  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands 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 a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

    Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 was adopted on 20 May 2014 and entered into force on 9 June 2014. It is applied by all Member States with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

    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.

    The first series of visa waiver agreements were signed on 6 May 2015 (United Arab Emirates), 26 May 2015 (Timor-Leste) and 28 May 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu) and provisionally apply from the date of signature pending their entry into force. The Council has authorised the signature of a second series of visa waiver agreements with Tonga (signed on 20 November 2015), Colombia (signed on 2 December 2015), Kiribati (date of signature to be determined) and Palau (signed on 7 December 2015). These four agreements provisionally apply from the day following the date of signature pending their entry into force.

    The negotiations with the Marshall Islands were opened on 17 December 2014. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 11 December 2015 (Marshall Islands) and 13 January 2016 (Union).

    The Commission considers 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 calls on the Council to adopt a decision aiming to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

    The final 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 the Marshall Islands 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 of 90 days in any 180-day period is attached to the agreement. 

    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 the Marshall Islands to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (currently Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

    A provision has been included in the agreement stating that the Marshall Islands 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.

    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 those travelling to carry out a paid activity, each Member State and also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

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

    A joint declaration on the association of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is annexed to the agreement.

    Lastly, the Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement.

2016-07-23Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
activities/1/docs/0/text

  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 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 which lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

    The Regulation, adopted on 20 May 2014, entered into force on 9 June 2014. It is applied by all Member States, with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

    In July 2014, the Commission presented a Recommendation to the Council to authorise it to start negotiations on visa waiver agreements with 17 countries including the Marshall Islands.

    The first series of visa waiver agreements were signed on 6 May 2015 (United Arab Emirates), 26 May 2015 (Timor-Leste) and 28 May 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu) and provisionally apply from the date of signature pending their entry into force.

    The Council has authorised the signature of a second series of visa waiver agreements with Tonga (signed on 20 November 2015), Colombia (signed on 2 December 2015), Kiribati (date of signature to be determined) and Palau (signed on 7 December 2015).

    The negotiations with the Marshall Islands were opened on 17 December 2014 and conducted by exchange of letters. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 11 December 2015 (Marshall Islands) and 13 January 2016 (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 proposed that the Council adopt a decision to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

    The final content of it can be summarised as follows:

    Purpose and duration of the Agreement: the Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of the Marshall Islands 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 of 90 days in any 180-day period is attached to the agreement.

    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 the Marshall Islands to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (currently Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

    A provision has been included stating that the Marshall Islands 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.

    Scope: 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 also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

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

    A joint declaration on the association of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is attached to the proposal.

    Lastly, the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement.
2016-07-09Show (3) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-07-07T00:00:00
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LIBE/8/06220
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Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
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2016-07-06Show (4) Changes | Timetravel
activities/0/docs/0/text

  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands 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 a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

    Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 was adopted on 20 May 2014 and entered into force on 9 June 2014. It is applied by all Member States with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

    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.

    The first series of visa waiver agreements were signed on 6 May 2015 (United Arab Emirates), 26 May 2015 (Timor-Leste) and 28 May 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu) and provisionally apply from the date of signature pending their entry into force. The Council has authorised the signature of a second series of visa waiver agreements with Tonga (signed on 20 November 2015), Colombia (signed on 2 December 2015), Kiribati (date of signature to be determined) and Palau (signed on 7 December 2015). These four agreements provisionally apply from the day following the date of signature pending their entry into force.

    The negotiations with the Marshall Islands were opened on 17 December 2014. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 11 December 2015 (Marshall Islands) and 13 January 2016 (Union).

    The Commission considers 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 calls on the Council to adopt a decision aiming to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

    The final 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 the Marshall Islands 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 of 90 days in any 180-day period is attached to the agreement. 

    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 the Marshall Islands to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (currently Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

    A provision has been included in the agreement stating that the Marshall Islands 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.

    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 those travelling to carry out a paid activity, each Member State and also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

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

    A joint declaration on the association of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is annexed to the agreement.

    Lastly, the Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement.
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2016-06-29Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-05-19Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
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2016-05-23T00:00:00
committees/1/rapporteur
  • group: EPP name: GABRIEL Mariya
2016-05-05Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
activities/0/docs/0/text

  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands 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 a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

    Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 was adopted on 20 May 2014 and entered into force on 9 June 2014. It is applied by all Member States with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

    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.

    The first series of visa waiver agreements were signed on 6 May 2015 (United Arab Emirates), 26 May 2015 (Timor-Leste) and 28 May 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and Vanuatu) and provisionally apply from the date of signature pending their entry into force. The Council has authorised the signature of a second series of visa waiver agreements with Tonga (signed on 20 November 2015), Colombia (signed on 2 December 2015), Kiribati (date of signature to be determined) and Palau (signed on 7 December 2015). These four agreements provisionally apply from the day following the date of signature pending their entry into force.

    The negotiations with the Marshall Islands were opened on 17 December 2014. The agreement was initialled by an exchange of letters between the chief negotiators on 11 December 2015 (Marshall Islands) and 13 January 2016 (Union).

    The Commission considers 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 calls on the Council to adopt a decision aiming to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Marshall Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.

    The final 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 the Marshall Islands 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 of 90 days in any 180-day period is attached to the agreement. 

    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 the Marshall Islands to stay for 90 days in any 180-day on the territory of each of those Member States (currently Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), independently of the period calculated for the whole Schengen area.

    A provision has been included in the agreement stating that the Marshall Islands 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.

    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 those travelling to carry out a paid activity, each Member State and also the Marshall Islands remain free to impose the visa requirement on the citizens of the other Party in accordance with the applicable Union or national law. 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 the Marshall Islands to stay only in those Member States’ European territories.

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

    A joint declaration on the association of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is annexed to the agreement.

    Lastly, the Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement.
2016-04-28Show (2) Changes | Timetravel
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  • date: 2016-04-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2016/0188/COM_COM(2016)0188_EN.pdf title: COM(2016)0188 type: Legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52016PC0188:EN body: EC type: Legislative proposal published commission:
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  • body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee: LIBE
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