PURPOSE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing\nthe third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas\nwhen crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are\nexempt from that requirement so as to allow, under certain\nconditions, citizens from several Western Balkan countries (former\nYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) to enter the\nEU.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.
\nCONTENT: in proposing to amend Regulation\n(EC) No 539/2001 as last amended by Regulation\n(EC) No 1932/2006, the Commission is pursuing the following\nobjectives:
\nBearing in mind that the introduction of new biometric\npassports by the Western Balkan countries constitutes a fundamental\nelement in the visa liberalisation dialogues, the visa waiver for\nthe citizens of each of these countries should only apply to those\nwho are holders of such biometric passports.
\nIt should be noted that the Commission considers that\nholders of Serbian passports issued by the specific Coordination\nDirectorate (in Serbian: Koordinaciona uprava) should be\nexcluded from the visa free regime for Serbia.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: not applicable.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the proposed amendment has no\nimplication for the Community budget.
\nThe Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home\nAffairs adopted the report drafted by Tanja FAJON (S&D, SI)\namending, under the consultation procedure, the proposal for a\nCouncil regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the\nthird countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when\ncrossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt\nfrom that requirement.
\nThe amendments proposed by the parliamentary committee\naim to put the Western Balkans on an equal footing as regards visa\nexemptions.
\nThe main amendments were as follows:
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 550 votes to 51 with 37\nabstentions a\nlegislative resolution amending, under the consultation procedure,\nthe proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No\n539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in\npossession of visas when crossing the external borders and those\nwhose nationals are exempt from that requirement. Parliament points\nout that the exemption from the visa requirement should also apply\nto Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina after an assessment by the\nCommission that each meets all the benchmarks set in the relevant\nroadmap for visa liberalisation and in accordance with the Treaty,\nsince Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina have made further progress\nwith regard to the majority of the relevant benchmarks since the\nassessment of the Commission in May 2009.
\nThe main amendments were as follows:
\nIncluding Albania and Bosnia in\nthe proposed exemption regime: Parliament recalls that the Commission\ninitiated the current visa liberalisation dialogue with a regional\napproach and a European perspective, involving countries of the\nWestern Balkans on an equal footing and without any discrimination.\nIn this context, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, should be\ntransferred from Annex I to Annex II (visa exemption) of Regulation\n(EC) No 539/2001, together with the former Yugoslav Republic of\nMacedonia, Montenegro, Serbia. Members stipulate that the\nsame criteria laid down in the roadmaps for visa liberalisation\nshould be applied to all countries concerned.
\nPostponing visa exemption if\ncriteria are not met: Parliament states that all the Western Balkan\ncountries that have met the benchmarks should be admitted to the\nvisa-free travel regime from the beginning of 2010. Those countries\nthat, despite having made substantial progress, have not fully met\nthe benchmarks should be granted the same privilege as soon as they\nmeet the benchmarks as set out in the corresponding roadmaps for\nvisa liberalisation. The exemption from the visa requirement should\napply to Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina after an assessment by\nthe Commission that each meets all the benchmarks set in the\nrelevant roadmap for visa liberalisation and after approval of that\nassessment by the Council. The Commission should, without delay and\nno later than in the early 2010, present a report on the\nachievements made by Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in meeting\nall the benchmarks set in the roadmap. Parliament asks the\nCommission to assist the relevant authorities of Albania and Bosnia\nand Herzegovina in this respect.
\nKosovo: lastly, with the aim of furthering\nthe implementation of the Thessaloniki agenda and as part of its\nregional approach, the Commission, within the limits of its\ncompetence and in the light of UN Security Council Resolution 1244\n(1999), should start a visa dialogue with Kosovo with a view to\nestablishing a roadmap for visa facilitation and liberalisation\nsimilar to those established with Western Balkan\ncountries.
\nPURPOSE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing\nthe third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas\nwhen crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are\nexempt from that requirement so as to allow, under certain\nconditions, citizens from several Western Balkan countries (former\nYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) to enter the\nEU.
\nLEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 1244/2009\namending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries\nwhose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the\nexternal borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that\nrequirement.
\nCONTENT: the Council decided to grant visa free\ntravel to and throughout the Schengen area for citizens of the\nformer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. It\ndid so by adopting amendments to regulation No 539/2001. The visa\nwaiver will apply from 19 December 2009 to holders of biometric\npassports.
\nThe regulation also envisages the specific case of\nAlbania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. These countries are not\nconsidered to have met all the benchmarks agreed under the visa\nliberalisation dialogue with the countries of the Western Balkans.\nA political declaration, however, invites the Commission to propose\nvisa liberalisation for these two countries as soon as they comply\nwith all the benchmarks, with a view to achieving visa free travel\nfor their citizens as soon as possible. The main areas where\nbenchmarks were set under the visa liberalisation dialogue are\nborder controls, passport security, fight against organised crime\nand corruption as well as external relations and fundamental\nrights.
\nThe amended regulation also makes a reference to\nKosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 with the result that persons residing in\nKosovo require a visa when travelling to the EU.
\nJoint political declaration annexed to the\ndecision: in this declaration, the\nEuropean Parliament and the Council:
\n· \ninvites the Commission to propose visa\nliberalisation for these two countries as soon as they comply with\nall the benchmarks recognise that the former Yugoslav Republic of\nMacedonia, Montenegro and Serbia fulfil all conditions for visa\nliberalisation;
\n· \nexpresses the hope that Albania and Bosnia and\nHerzegovina will also qualify for visa liberalisation soon. To that\nend, the European Parliament and the Council urge those two\ncountries to make all efforts to comply with all the benchmarks set\nout in the Commission's roadmaps;
\n· \ninvites the Commission to present a legislative\nproposal for amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 as soon as it has\nassessed that each country meets the benchmarks set out in the\nCommission's roadmaps, with a view to achieving visa liberalisation\nfor citizens of those countries as soon as possible;
\n· \nwill examine a proposal for amending Regulation\n(EC) No 539/2001 concerning Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a\nmatter of urgency.
\nTerritorial provisions:\nIceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall participate in\nthe application of this regulation in that it constitutes a\ndevelopment of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the\nmeaning of the Agreement concluded between the European Union. On\nthe other hand, the United Kingdom and Ireland shall not\nparticipate in this act or be bound by it or subject to its\napplication.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE and APPLICATION: 19 December\n2009.
\nPURPOSE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing\nthe third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas\nwhen crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are\nexempt from that requirement so as to allow, under certain\nconditions, citizens from several Western Balkan countries (former\nYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) to enter the\nEU.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.
\nCONTENT: in proposing to amend Regulation\n(EC) No 539/2001 as last amended by Regulation\n(EC) No 1932/2006, the Commission is pursuing the following\nobjectives:
\nBearing in mind that the introduction of new biometric\npassports by the Western Balkan countries constitutes a fundamental\nelement in the visa liberalisation dialogues, the visa waiver for\nthe citizens of each of these countries should only apply to those\nwho are holders of such biometric passports.
\nIt should be noted that the Commission considers that\nholders of Serbian passports issued by the specific Coordination\nDirectorate (in Serbian: Koordinaciona uprava) should be\nexcluded from the visa free regime for Serbia.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: not applicable.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the proposed amendment has no\nimplication for the Community budget.
\nThe Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home\nAffairs adopted the report drafted by Tanja FAJON (S&D, SI)\namending, under the consultation procedure, the proposal for a\nCouncil regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the\nthird countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when\ncrossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt\nfrom that requirement.
\nThe amendments proposed by the parliamentary committee\naim to put the Western Balkans on an equal footing as regards visa\nexemptions.
\nThe main amendments were as follows:
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 550 votes to 51 with 37\nabstentions a\nlegislative resolution amending, under the consultation procedure,\nthe proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No\n539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in\npossession of visas when crossing the external borders and those\nwhose nationals are exempt from that requirement. Parliament points\nout that the exemption from the visa requirement should also apply\nto Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina after an assessment by the\nCommission that each meets all the benchmarks set in the relevant\nroadmap for visa liberalisation and in accordance with the Treaty,\nsince Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina have made further progress\nwith regard to the majority of the relevant benchmarks since the\nassessment of the Commission in May 2009.
\nThe main amendments were as follows:
\nIncluding Albania and Bosnia in\nthe proposed exemption regime: Parliament recalls that the Commission\ninitiated the current visa liberalisation dialogue with a regional\napproach and a European perspective, involving countries of the\nWestern Balkans on an equal footing and without any discrimination.\nIn this context, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, should be\ntransferred from Annex I to Annex II (visa exemption) of Regulation\n(EC) No 539/2001, together with the former Yugoslav Republic of\nMacedonia, Montenegro, Serbia. Members stipulate that the\nsame criteria laid down in the roadmaps for visa liberalisation\nshould be applied to all countries concerned.
\nPostponing visa exemption if\ncriteria are not met: Parliament states that all the Western Balkan\ncountries that have met the benchmarks should be admitted to the\nvisa-free travel regime from the beginning of 2010. Those countries\nthat, despite having made substantial progress, have not fully met\nthe benchmarks should be granted the same privilege as soon as they\nmeet the benchmarks as set out in the corresponding roadmaps for\nvisa liberalisation. The exemption from the visa requirement should\napply to Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina after an assessment by\nthe Commission that each meets all the benchmarks set in the\nrelevant roadmap for visa liberalisation and after approval of that\nassessment by the Council. The Commission should, without delay and\nno later than in the early 2010, present a report on the\nachievements made by Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in meeting\nall the benchmarks set in the roadmap. Parliament asks the\nCommission to assist the relevant authorities of Albania and Bosnia\nand Herzegovina in this respect.
\nKosovo: lastly, with the aim of furthering\nthe implementation of the Thessaloniki agenda and as part of its\nregional approach, the Commission, within the limits of its\ncompetence and in the light of UN Security Council Resolution 1244\n(1999), should start a visa dialogue with Kosovo with a view to\nestablishing a roadmap for visa facilitation and liberalisation\nsimilar to those established with Western Balkan\ncountries.
\nPURPOSE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing\nthe third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas\nwhen crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are\nexempt from that requirement so as to allow, under certain\nconditions, citizens from several Western Balkan countries (former\nYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) to enter the\nEU.
\nLEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 1244/2009\namending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries\nwhose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the\nexternal borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that\nrequirement.
\nCONTENT: the Council decided to grant visa free\ntravel to and throughout the Schengen area for citizens of the\nformer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. It\ndid so by adopting amendments to regulation No 539/2001. The visa\nwaiver will apply from 19 December 2009 to holders of biometric\npassports.
\nThe regulation also envisages the specific case of\nAlbania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. These countries are not\nconsidered to have met all the benchmarks agreed under the visa\nliberalisation dialogue with the countries of the Western Balkans.\nA political declaration, however, invites the Commission to propose\nvisa liberalisation for these two countries as soon as they comply\nwith all the benchmarks, with a view to achieving visa free travel\nfor their citizens as soon as possible. The main areas where\nbenchmarks were set under the visa liberalisation dialogue are\nborder controls, passport security, fight against organised crime\nand corruption as well as external relations and fundamental\nrights.
\nThe amended regulation also makes a reference to\nKosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 with the result that persons residing in\nKosovo require a visa when travelling to the EU.
\nJoint political declaration annexed to the\ndecision: in this declaration, the\nEuropean Parliament and the Council:
\n· \ninvites the Commission to propose visa\nliberalisation for these two countries as soon as they comply with\nall the benchmarks recognise that the former Yugoslav Republic of\nMacedonia, Montenegro and Serbia fulfil all conditions for visa\nliberalisation;
\n· \nexpresses the hope that Albania and Bosnia and\nHerzegovina will also qualify for visa liberalisation soon. To that\nend, the European Parliament and the Council urge those two\ncountries to make all efforts to comply with all the benchmarks set\nout in the Commission's roadmaps;
\n· \ninvites the Commission to present a legislative\nproposal for amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 as soon as it has\nassessed that each country meets the benchmarks set out in the\nCommission's roadmaps, with a view to achieving visa liberalisation\nfor citizens of those countries as soon as possible;
\n· \nwill examine a proposal for amending Regulation\n(EC) No 539/2001 concerning Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a\nmatter of urgency.
\nTerritorial provisions:\nIceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall participate in\nthe application of this regulation in that it constitutes a\ndevelopment of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the\nmeaning of the Agreement concluded between the European Union. On\nthe other hand, the United Kingdom and Ireland shall not\nparticipate in this act or be bound by it or subject to its\napplication.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE and APPLICATION: 19 December\n2009.
\n