Nařízení Evropského parlamentu a Rady (EU) 2019/1155 ze dne 20. června 2019, kterým se mění nařízení (ES) č. 810/2009 o kodexu Společenství o vízech (vízový kodex)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Article 52 Article 52 Committee procedure 1.The Commission shall be assisted by a committee (the Visa Committee). That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilRegulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13 ).; . 2.Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply. Where the Committee delivers no opinion, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act and the third subparagraph of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 77(2)(a) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social CommitteeOJ C 440, 6.12.2018, p. 142 . ,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedurePosition of the European Parliament of 17 April 2019 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 6 June 2019 . ,

OJ C 440, 6.12.2018, p. 142 .

(1) The Union's common visa policy has been an integral part of the establishment of an area without internal borders. Visa policy should remain an essential tool for facilitating tourism and business, while helping counter security risks and the risk of irregular migration to the Union. The common visa policy should contribute to generating growth and be consistent with other Union policies, such as those concerning external relations, trade, education, culture and tourism.

(2) The Union should use its visa policy in its cooperation with third countries, and to ensure a better balance between migration and security concerns, economic considerations and general external relations.

(3) Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilRegulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) (OJ L 243, 15.9.2009, p. 1 ). establishes the procedures and conditions for issuing visas for intended stays on the territory of Member States not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.

(4) Visa applications should be examined and decided on by consulates or, by way of derogation, central authorities. Member States should ensure that the consulates and central authorities have sufficient knowledge of local circumstances to ensure the integrity of the visa procedure.

(5) The application procedure should be as easy as possible for applicants. It should be clear which Member State is competent to examine an application, in particular where the applicant intends to visit several Member States. Where possible, Member States should allow for application forms to be completed and submitted electronically. It should also be possible for applicants to sign the application form electronically, where electronic signature is recognised by the competent Member State. Deadlines should be established for the various steps of the procedure, in particular to allow travellers to plan ahead and avoid peak seasons in consulates.

(6) Member States should not be required to maintain the possibility of direct access for the lodging of applications at the consulate in places where an external service provider has been mandated to collect applications on its behalf, without prejudice to the obligations imposed on Member States by Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the CouncilDirective 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States amending Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 and repealing Directives 64/221/EEC, 68/360/EEC, 72/194/EEC, 73/148/EEC, 75/34/EEC, 75/35/EEC, 90/364/EEC, 90/365/EEC and 93/96/EEC (OJ L 158, 30.4.2004, p. 77 ). , in particular Article 5(2) thereof.

(7) The visa fee should ensure that sufficient financial resources are available to cover the expenses of processing applications, including of appropriate structures and of sufficient staff to ensure the quality and integrity of the examination of applications, as well as the respect for deadlines. The amount of the visa fee should be revised every three years on the basis of objective assessment criteria.

(8) Third-country nationals subject to the visa requirement should be able to lodge their application in their place of residence even if the competent Member State has no consulate for the purpose of collecting applications, and is not represented by another Member State, in that third country. To that end, Member States should endeavour to cooperate with external service providers, who should be able to charge a service fee. That service fee should, in principle, not exceed the amount of the visa fee. Where that amount is not sufficient to provide a full service, the external service provider should however be able to charge a higher service fee, subject to the limit provided for in this Regulation.

(9) Representation arrangements should be streamlined and eased and obstacles to the conclusion of such arrangements among Member States should be avoided. The representing Member State should be responsible for the entire visa procedure without the involvement of the represented Member State.

(10) Where the jurisdiction of the consulate of the representing Member State covers more than the host country, it should be possible for the representation arrangement to cover those third countries.

(11) In order to lessen the administrative burden on consulates and to facilitate travel for frequent or regular travellers, multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity should be issued to applicants fulfilling the entry conditions during the entire period of validity of the issued visa according to objectively determined common criteria and not be limited to specific travel purposes or categories of applicants. In that context, Member States should have particular regard for persons travelling for the purpose of exercising their profession, such as business people, seafarers, artists and athletes. It should be possible to issue multiple-entry visas with a shorter period of validity if there are reasonable grounds to do so.

(12) Given the differences in local circumstances, notably with regard to migratory and security risks, as well as the relationships that the Union maintains with specific countries, consulates in individual locations should assess the need to adapt the rules on the issuing of multiple-entry visas to allow for a more favourable or more restrictive application. More favourable approaches in issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity should take into account, in particular, the existence of trade agreements covering the mobility of business persons. On the basis of that assessment, the Commission should, by means of implementing acts, adopt rules regarding the conditions for the issuing of such visas to be applied in each jurisdiction.

(13) Where there is a lack of cooperation by certain third countries to readmit those of their nationals who have been apprehended in an irregular situation, and failure by those third countries to cooperate effectively in the return process, a restrictive and temporary application of certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 should, on the basis of a transparent mechanism based on objective criteria, be applied to enhance a given third country's cooperation on readmission of irregular migrants. The Commission should assess regularly, at least once a year, third countries' cooperation with regard to readmission, and should examine any notification by the Member States concerning the cooperation with a third country in the readmission of irregular migrants. The Commission should, in its assessment of whether a third country is cooperating sufficiently and whether action is needed, take into account the overall cooperation of that third country in the field of migration, in particular in the areas of border management, of prevention of and the fight against migrant smuggling and of prevention of transit of irregular migrants through its territory. Where the Commission considers that the third country is not cooperating sufficiently or where it is notified by a simple majority of Member States that a third country is not cooperating sufficiently, it should submit a proposal to the Council to adopt an implementing decision, while continuing its efforts to improve cooperation with the third country concerned. Also, where, as regards the level of cooperation of a third country with Member States on the readmission of irregular migrants, assessed on the basis of relevant and objective data, the Commission considers that a third country is cooperating sufficiently, it should be possible for the Commission to submit a proposal to the Council to adopt an implementing decision concerning applicants or categories of applicants who are nationals of that third country and who apply for a visa on the territory of that third country, providing for one or more visa facilitations.

(14) In order to ensure that all relevant factors and possible implications of the application of the measures to enhance a third country's cooperation on readmission are adequately taken into account, having regard to the particularly sensitive political nature of such measures and their horizontal implications for the Member States and the Union itself, in particular for their external relations and for the overall functioning of the Schengen area, implementing powers should be conferred on the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission. Conferring such implementing powers on the Council adequately takes into account the potential politically sensitive nature of the implementation of the measures to enhance the cooperation of a third country on readmission, given also the facilitation agreements that Member States have in place with third countries.

(15) Applicants who have been refused a visa should have the right to appeal. The notification of the refusal should include detailed information on the reasons for the refusal and on the appeal procedure. During the appeal procedure, the applicants should be given access to all relevant information for their case, in accordance with national law.

(16) This Regulation respects fundamental rights and observes the rights and principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. In particular, it seeks to ensure full respect of the right to protection of personal data, the right to respect for private and family life, the rights of the child, and the protection of vulnerable persons.

(17) Local Schengen cooperation is crucial for the harmonised application of the common visa policy and for proper assessment of migratory and security risks. Within that cooperation, Member States should assess the operational application of specific provisions in the light of local circumstances and migratory risk. Cooperation and exchanges among consulates in individual locations should be coordinated by Union delegations.

(18) Member States should closely and regularly monitor the operations of external service providers to ensure compliance with the legal instrument governing the responsibilities entrusted to them. Member States should report to the Commission annually on the cooperation with and monitoring of external service providers. Member States should ensure that the entire procedure for the processing of applications and the cooperation with external service providers is monitored by expatriate staff.

(19) Flexible rules should be established to allow Member States to optimise the sharing of resources and to increase consular coverage. Cooperation among Member States (Schengen Visa Centres) could take any form suited to local circumstances in order to increase geographical consular coverage, reduce Member States' costs, increase the visibility of the Union and improve the service offered to applicants.

(20) Electronic application systems are an important tool to facilitate application procedures. A common solution aiming at digitisation should be developed in the future, thereby making full use of the recent legal and technological developments, to allow applications to be lodged online to accommodate applicants' needs and to attract more visitors to the Schengen area. Straightforward and streamlined procedural guarantees should be strengthened and uniformly applied. Furthermore, where possible, interviews could be conducted using modern digital tools and remote means of communication, such as voice or video calls via internet. The fundamental rights of applicants should be guaranteed during the process.

(21) In order to provide for the possibility of revising the amount of the visa fees set out in this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending this Regulation as regards the amount of the visa fees. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-MakingOJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1 . . In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

(22) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilRegulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13 ). .

(23) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol No 22 on the Position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the TFEU, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Given that this Regulation builds upon the Schengen acquis , Denmark shall, in accordance with Article 4 of that Protocol, decide within a period of six months after the Council has decided on this Regulation whether it will implement it in its national law.

(24) This Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2000/365/ECCouncil Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43 ). ; the United Kingdom is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

(25) This Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/ECCouncil Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20 ). ; Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

(26) As regards Iceland and Norway, this Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the latters' association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36 . which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B of Council Decision 1999/437/ECCouncil Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31 ). .

(27) As regards Switzerland, this Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 52 . which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2008/146/ECCouncil Decision 2008/146/EC of 28 January 2008 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 1 ). .

(28) As regards Liechtenstein, this Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 21 . which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2011/350/EUCouncil Decision 2011/350/EU of 7 March 2011 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, relating to the abolition of checks at internal borders and movement of persons (OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 19 ). .

(29) As regards Cyprus, this Regulation constitutes an act building upon, or otherwise relating to, the Schengen acquis , within the meaning of Article 3(2) of the 2003 Act of Accession.

(30) As regards Bulgaria and Romania, this Regulation constitutes an act building upon, or otherwise relating to, the Schengen acquis within the meaning of Article 4(2) of the 2005 Act of Accession.

(31) As regards Croatia, this Regulation constitutes an act building upon, or otherwise relating to, the Schengen acquis within the meaning of Article 4(2) of the 2011 Act of Accession.

(32) Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly,

By 2 August 2022 , the Commission shall produce an evaluation of the application of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, as amended by this Regulation. This overall evaluation shall include an examination of the results achieved against objectives and of the implementation of the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, as amended by this Regulation.

The Commission shall transmit the evaluation referred to in paragraph 1 to the European Parliament and the Council. On the basis of the evaluation, the Commission shall submit, where necessary, appropriate proposals.

By 2 May 2020 , the Member States shall provide the Commission with relevant available data on the use of the travel medical insurance referred to in Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 by visa holders during their stay on the territory of the Member States, as well as costs incurred by national authorities or providers of medical services for visa holders. On the basis of that data, the Commission shall, by 2 November 2020 , produce a report to be transmitted to the European Parliament and to the Council.

Position of the European Parliament of 17 April 2019 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 6 June 2019 .

Article 2 Article 2 Monitoring and evaluation 1.By 2 August 2022 , the Commission shall produce an evaluation of the application of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, as amended by this Regulation. This overall evaluation shall include an examination of the results achieved against objectives and of the implementation of the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, as amended by this Regulation. 2.The Commission shall transmit the evaluation referred to in paragraph 1 to the European Parliament and the Council. On the basis of the evaluation, the Commission shall submit, where necessary, appropriate proposals. 3.By 2 May 2020 , the Member States shall provide the Commission with relevant available data on the use of the travel medical insurance referred to in Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 by visa holders during their stay on the territory of the Member States, as well as costs incurred by national authorities or providers of medical services for visa holders. On the basis of that data, the Commission shall, by 2 November 2020 , produce a report to be transmitted to the European Parliament and to the Council.

Article 3 Article 3 Entry into force 1.This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union . 2.It shall apply from 2 February 2020 .

Article 25a Article 25a Cooperation on readmission 1.Depending on the level of cooperation of a third country with Member States on the readmission of irregular migrants, assessed on the basis of relevant and objective data, Article 14(6), Article 16(1), point (b) of Article 16(5), Article 23(1), and Article 24(2) and (2c) shall not apply to applicants or categories of applicants who are nationals of a third country that is considered not to be cooperating sufficiently, in accordance with this Article. 2.The Commission shall regularly assess, at least once a year, third countries' cooperation with regard to readmission, taking account, in particular, of the following indicators: (a) the number of return decisions issued to persons from the third country in question, illegally staying on the territory of the Member States;(b) the number of actual forced returns of persons issued with return decisions as a percentage of the number of return decisions issued to nationals of the third country in question including, where appropriate, on the basis of Union or bilateral readmission agreements, the number of third country nationals who have transited through the territory of the third country in question;(c) the number of readmission requests per Member State accepted by the third country as a percentage of the number of such requests submitted to it;(d) the level of practical cooperation with regard to return in the different stages of the return procedure, such as:(i) assistance provided in the identification of persons illegally staying on the territory of the Member States and in the timely issuance of travel documents;(ii) acceptance of the European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals or laissez-passer;(iii) acceptance of the readmission of persons who are to be legally returned to their country;(iv) acceptance of return flights and operations. Such an assessment shall be based on the use of reliable data provided by Member States, as well as by Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies. The Commission shall regularly, at least once a year, report its assessment to the Council. 3.A Member State may also notify the Commission if it is confronted with substantial and persisting practical problems in the cooperation with a third country in the readmission of irregular migrants on the basis of the same indicators as those listed in paragraph 2. The Commission shall immediately inform the European Parliament and the Council of the notification. 4.The Commission shall examine any notification made pursuant to paragraph 3 within a period of one month. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of the results of its examination. 5.Where, on the basis of the analysis referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4, and taking into account the steps taken by the Commission to improve the level of cooperation of the third country concerned in the field of readmission and the Union's overall relations with that third country, including in the field of migration, the Commission considers that a country is not cooperating sufficiently and that action is therefore needed, or where, within 12 months, a simple majority of Member States have notified the Commission in accordance with paragraph 3, the Commission, while continuing its efforts to improve the cooperation with the third country concerned, shall submit a proposal to the Council to adopt: (a) an implementing decision temporarily suspending the application of any one or more of Article 14(6), point (b) of Article 16(5), Article 23(1), or Article 24(2) and (2c), to all nationals of the third country concerned or to certain categories thereof;(b) where, following an assessment by the Commission, the measures applied in accordance with the implementing decision referred to in point (a) of this paragraph are considered ineffective, an implementing decision applying, on a gradual basis, one of the visa fees set out in Article 16(2a) to all nationals of the third country concerned or to certain categories thereof. 6.The Commission shall continuously assess and report on the basis of the indicators set out in paragraph 2 whether substantial and sustained improvement in the cooperation with the third country concerned on readmission of irregular migrants can be established and, taking also account of the Union's overall relations with that third country, may submit a proposal to the Council to repeal or amend the implementing decisions referred to in paragraph 5. 7.At the latest six months after the entry into force of the implementing decisions referred to in paragraph 5, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council on progress achieved in that third country's cooperation on readmission. 8.Where, on the basis of the analysis referred to in paragraph 2 and taking account of the Union's overall relations with the third country concerned, especially in cooperation in the field of readmission, the Commission considers that the third country concerned is cooperating sufficiently, it may submit a proposal to the Council to adopt an implementing decision concerning applicants or categories of applicants who are nationals of that third country and who apply for a visa on the territory of that third country, providing for one or more of the following: (a) reduction of the visa fee referred to in Article 16(1) to EUR 60;(b) reduction of the time within which decisions on an application referred to in Article 23(1) are to be made to 10 days;(c) increase in the period of validity of multiple-entry visas under Article 24(2). That implementing decision shall apply for a maximum of one year. It may be renewed.;

Article 40 Article 40 Consular organisation and cooperation 1.Each Member State shall be responsible for organising the procedures relating to applications. 2.Member States shall: (a) equip their consulates and authorities responsible for issuing visas at the borders with the requisite material for the collection of biometric identifiers, as well as the offices of their honorary consuls, where they make use of them, to collect biometric identifiers in accordance with Article 42;(b) cooperate with one or more other Member States under representation arrangements or any other form of consular cooperation. 3.A Member State may also cooperate with an external service provider in accordance with Article 43. 4.Member States shall notify to the Commission their consular organisation and cooperation in each consular location. 5.In the event of termination of cooperation with other Member States, Member States shall strive to assure the continuity of full service.;

Article 44 Article 44 Encryption and secure transfer of data 1.In the case of cooperation among Member States and cooperation with an external service provider and recourse to honorary consuls, the Member State(s) concerned shall ensure that data are fully encrypted, whether transferred electronically or physically on an electronic storage medium. 2.In third countries that prohibit the encrypted data to be electronically transferred, the Member State(s) concerned shall not allow data to be transferred electronically. In such cases, the Member State(s) concerned shall ensure that the electronic data are transferred physically in fully encrypted form on an electronic storage medium by a consular officer of a Member State or, where such transfer would require disproportionate or unreasonable measures, in another safe and secure way, for example by using established operators experienced in transporting sensitive documents and data in the third country concerned. 3.In all cases the level of security for the transfer shall be adapted to the sensitive nature of the data.;

Article 51 Article 51 Instructions on the practical application of this Regulation

Article 51a Article 51a Exercise of the delegation 1.The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article. 2.The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 16(9) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 1 August 2019 . The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period. 3.The delegation of power referred to in Article 16(9) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated act already in force. 4.Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-MakingOJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1 .; . 5.As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. 6.A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 16(9) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

It shall apply from 2 February 2020 .

Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) (OJ L 243, 15.9.2009, p. 1 ).

Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States amending Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 and repealing Directives 64/221/EEC, 68/360/EEC, 72/194/EEC, 73/148/EEC, 75/34/EEC, 75/35/EEC, 90/364/EEC, 90/365/EEC and 93/96/EEC (OJ L 158, 30.4.2004, p. 77 ).

OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1 .

Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13 ).

Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43 ).

Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20 ).

OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36 .

Council Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31 ).

OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 52 .

Council Decision 2008/146/EC of 28 January 2008 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 1 ).

OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 21 .

Council Decision 2011/350/EU of 7 March 2011 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, relating to the abolition of checks at internal borders and movement of persons (OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 19 ).

Decision No 1105/2011/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the list of travel documents which entitle the holder to cross the external borders and which may be endorsed with a visa and on setting up a mechanism for establishing this list (OJ L 287, 4.11.2011, p. 9 ).;

Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC (OJ L 257, 28.8.2014, p. 73 ).;

Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the Rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (OJ L 77, 23.3.2016, p. 1 ).;

Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing (OJ L 132, 21.5.2016, p. 21 ).;

Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1 ).;

Council Decision 2010/427/EU of 26 July 2010 establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service (OJ L 201, 3.8.2010, p. 30 ).;

OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1 .;

Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13 ).;

Depending on the level of cooperation of a third country with Member States on the readmission of irregular migrants, assessed on the basis of relevant and objective data, Article 14(6), Article 16(1), point (b) of Article 16(5), Article 23(1), and Article 24(2) and (2c) shall not apply to applicants or categories of applicants who are nationals of a third country that is considered not to be cooperating sufficiently, in accordance with this Article.

The Commission shall regularly assess, at least once a year, third countries' cooperation with regard to readmission, taking account, in particular, of the following indicators:

(a) the number of return decisions issued to persons from the third country in question, illegally staying on the territory of the Member States;

(b) the number of actual forced returns of persons issued with return decisions as a percentage of the number of return decisions issued to nationals of the third country in question including, where appropriate, on the basis of Union or bilateral readmission agreements, the number of third country nationals who have transited through the territory of the third country in question;

(c) the number of readmission requests per Member State accepted by the third country as a percentage of the number of such requests submitted to it;

(d) the level of practical cooperation with regard to return in the different stages of the return procedure, such as:(i) assistance provided in the identification of persons illegally staying on the territory of the Member States and in the timely issuance of travel documents;(ii) acceptance of the European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals or laissez-passer;(iii) acceptance of the readmission of persons who are to be legally returned to their country;(iv) acceptance of return flights and operations.

(i) assistance provided in the identification of persons illegally staying on the territory of the Member States and in the timely issuance of travel documents;

(ii) acceptance of the European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals or laissez-passer;

(iii) acceptance of the readmission of persons who are to be legally returned to their country;

(iv) acceptance of return flights and operations.

Such an assessment shall be based on the use of reliable data provided by Member States, as well as by Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies. The Commission shall regularly, at least once a year, report its assessment to the Council.

A Member State may also notify the Commission if it is confronted with substantial and persisting practical problems in the cooperation with a third country in the readmission of irregular migrants on the basis of the same indicators as those listed in paragraph 2. The Commission shall immediately inform the European Parliament and the Council of the notification.

The Commission shall examine any notification made pursuant to paragraph 3 within a period of one month. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of the results of its examination.

Where, on the basis of the analysis referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4, and taking into account the steps taken by the Commission to improve the level of cooperation of the third country concerned in the field of readmission and the Union's overall relations with that third country, including in the field of migration, the Commission considers that a country is not cooperating sufficiently and that action is therefore needed, or where, within 12 months, a simple majority of Member States have notified the Commission in accordance with paragraph 3, the Commission, while continuing its efforts to improve the cooperation with the third country concerned, shall submit a proposal to the Council to adopt:

(a) an implementing decision temporarily suspending the application of any one or more of Article 14(6), point (b) of Article 16(5), Article 23(1), or Article 24(2) and (2c), to all nationals of the third country concerned or to certain categories thereof;

(b) where, following an assessment by the Commission, the measures applied in accordance with the implementing decision referred to in point (a) of this paragraph are considered ineffective, an implementing decision applying, on a gradual basis, one of the visa fees set out in Article 16(2a) to all nationals of the third country concerned or to certain categories thereof.

The Commission shall continuously assess and report on the basis of the indicators set out in paragraph 2 whether substantial and sustained improvement in the cooperation with the third country concerned on readmission of irregular migrants can be established and, taking also account of the Union's overall relations with that third country, may submit a proposal to the Council to repeal or amend the implementing decisions referred to in paragraph 5.

At the latest six months after the entry into force of the implementing decisions referred to in paragraph 5, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council on progress achieved in that third country's cooperation on readmission.

Where, on the basis of the analysis referred to in paragraph 2 and taking account of the Union's overall relations with the third country concerned, especially in cooperation in the field of readmission, the Commission considers that the third country concerned is cooperating sufficiently, it may submit a proposal to the Council to adopt an implementing decision concerning applicants or categories of applicants who are nationals of that third country and who apply for a visa on the territory of that third country, providing for one or more of the following:

(a) reduction of the visa fee referred to in Article 16(1) to EUR 60;

(b) reduction of the time within which decisions on an application referred to in Article 23(1) are to be made to 10 days;

(c) increase in the period of validity of multiple-entry visas under Article 24(2).

That implementing decision shall apply for a maximum of one year. It may be renewed.;

Each Member State shall be responsible for organising the procedures relating to applications.

Member States shall:

(a) equip their consulates and authorities responsible for issuing visas at the borders with the requisite material for the collection of biometric identifiers, as well as the offices of their honorary consuls, where they make use of them, to collect biometric identifiers in accordance with Article 42;

(b) cooperate with one or more other Member States under representation arrangements or any other form of consular cooperation.

A Member State may also cooperate with an external service provider in accordance with Article 43.

Member States shall notify to the Commission their consular organisation and cooperation in each consular location.

In the event of termination of cooperation with other Member States, Member States shall strive to assure the continuity of full service.;

In the case of cooperation among Member States and cooperation with an external service provider and recourse to honorary consuls, the Member State(s) concerned shall ensure that data are fully encrypted, whether transferred electronically or physically on an electronic storage medium.

In third countries that prohibit the encrypted data to be electronically transferred, the Member State(s) concerned shall not allow data to be transferred electronically.

In such cases, the Member State(s) concerned shall ensure that the electronic data are transferred physically in fully encrypted form on an electronic storage medium by a consular officer of a Member State or, where such transfer would require disproportionate or unreasonable measures, in another safe and secure way, for example by using established operators experienced in transporting sensitive documents and data in the third country concerned.

In all cases the level of security for the transfer shall be adapted to the sensitive nature of the data.;

The Commission shall by means of implementing acts adopt the operational instructions on the practical application of the provisions of this Regulation. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 52(2).;

The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 16(9) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 1 August 2019 . The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

The delegation of power referred to in Article 16(9) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated act already in force.

Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-MakingOJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1 .; .

As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 16(9) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee (the Visa Committee). That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilRegulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13 ).; .

Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Where the Committee delivers no opinion, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act and the third subparagraph of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

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