EN Official Journal of the European Union C 163/1

Notifications by the Czech Republic concerning visa reciprocity (1)

(2005/C 163/01)

24 May 2005

Ref. no.: 3647/2005

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU presents its compliments to the Council of the EU and has the honour to express its appreciation for the Council of the EU once again for its continued cooperation and support on various matters related to the everyday conduct of duties of the Permanent Representation. In view of the amicable and working atmosphere existing between the Council of the EU and the Permanent Representation, the latter wishes to use this opportunity to bring to the attention of the European Commission the following issue.

The Czech Republic has decided to officially notify the countries which despite of the fact the Czech Republic being the Member State of the EU since 1 May 2004 still apply the unilateral visa regime to the Czech citizens and where the intensive bilateral negotiations as well as the meetings held on the EU level did not bring any effective results.

By this note on the basis of the Article 1, par. 4, letter a) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visa when crossing the external borders and those nationals are exempt from that requirement the Czech Republic notifies Brazil as the country which unilaterally applies the visa regime to the nationals of the Czech Republic.

As the visa reciprocity issue is considered to be a very sensitive problem on political level the Czech Republic believes that on the basis of solidarity clause provided for by the above mentioned Regulation the appropriate measures will be taken immediately to assure that all EU citizens on one side and the citizens of Brazil on the other side will enjoy the same equal and reciprocal regime when crossing the respective borders.

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Council of the EU the assurances of its highest consideration and friendship.

Mr. Javier SOLANA

Secretary-General/High Representative

General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union

Council of the European Union

Mr. Luc FRIEDEN

Minister for Justice, Minister for the Treasury and the Budget, Minister for Defence

Luxemburg

Franco FRATTINI

Vice President

Commissioner for Justice, Liberty and Security

24 May 2005

Ref. no.: 3647/2005

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU presents its compliments to the Council of the EU and has the honour to express its appreciation for the Council of the EU once again for its continued cooperation and support on various matters related to the everyday conduct of duties of the Permanent Representation. In view of the amicable and working atmosphere existing between the Council of the EU and the Permanent Representation, the latter wishes to use this opportunity to bring to the attention of the European Commission the following issue.

The Czech Republic has decided to officially notify the countries which despite of the fact the Czech Republic being the Member State of the EU since 1st May 2004 still apply the unilateral visa regime to the Czech citizens and where the intensive bilateral negotiations as well as the meetings held on the EU level did not bring any effective results.

By this note on the basis of the Article 1, par. 4, letter a) of the Council Regulation (EC) no. 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visa when crossing the external borders and those nationals are exempt from that requirement, the Czech Republic notifies Brunei as the country which unilaterally applies the visa regime to the nationals of the Czech Republic.

As the visa reciprocity issue is considered to be a very sensitive problem on political level the Czech Repuolic believes that on the basis of solidarity clause provided for fay the above mentioned Regulation the appropriate measures will be taken immediately to assure that all EU citizens on one side and the citizens of Brunei on the other side will enjoy the same equal and reciprocal regime when crossing the respective borders.

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Council of the EU the assurances of its highest consideration and friendship.

Mr. Javier SOLANA

Secretary-General/High Representative

General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union

Council of the European Union

Mr. Luc FRIEDEN

Minister for Justice, Minister for the Treasury and the Budget, Minister for Defence

Luxemburg

Franco FRATTINI

Vice President

Commissioner for Justice, Liberty and Security

24 May 2005

Ref. no.: 3647/2005

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU presents its compliments to the Council of the EU and has the honour to express its appreciation for the Council of the EU once again for its continued cooperation and support on various matters related to the everyday conduct of duties of the Permanent Representation. In view of the amicable and working atmosphere existing between the Council of the EU and the Permanent Representation, the latter wishes to use this opportunity to bring to the attention of the European Commission the following issue.

The Czech Republic has decided to officially notify the countries which despite of the fact the Czech Republic being the Member State of the EU since 1 May 2004 still apply the unilateral visa regime to the Czech citizens and where the intensive bilateral negotiations as well as the meetings held on the EU level did not bring any effective results.

By this note on the basis of the Article 1, par. 4, letter a) of the Council Regulation (EC) no. 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visa when crossing the external borders and those nationals are exempt from that requirement, the Czech Republic notifies Canada as the country which unifaterally applies the visa regime to the nationals of the Czech Republic.

As the visa reciprocity issue is considered to be a very sensitive problem on political level the Czech Republic believes that on the basis of solidarity clause provided for by the above mentioned Regulation the appropriate measures will be taken immediately to assure that all EU citizens on one side and the citizens of Canada on the other side will enjoy the same equal and reciprocal regime when crossing the respective borders.

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Council of the EU the assurances of its highest consideration and friendship.

Mr. Javier SOLANA

Secretary-General/High Representative

General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union

Council of the European Union

Mr. Luc FRIEDEN

Minister for Justice, Minister for the Treasury and the Budget, Minister for Defence

Luxemburg

Franco FRATTINI

Vice President

Commissioner for Justice, Liberty and Security

(1) The Permanent Representatives Committee agreed, at its meeting of 21 June 2005, to publish these notifications, in conformity with Article 1, paragraph 4, point (a) of Regulation (EC) No. 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 (OJ L 81, 21.3.2001, p.1), as modified by Regulation (EC) No. 851/2005 of 2 June 2005 (OJ L 141, 4.6.2005, p. 3).