A4-0117/94

Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down a uniform format for visas (COM(94)0287 - C4-0115/94 - 94/0163(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Title

>Original text>

Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down a uniform format for visas

>Text following EP vote>

Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down a uniform format for visas for short stays

(Amendment 2)

Citation 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data of 28 January 1981, and the recommendation No R (87) 15 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe regulating the use of personal data in the police sector adopted on 17 September 1987.

(Amendment 3)

Recital 4

>Original text>

Whereas this Regulation only lays down such specifications of the format that are not secret; whereas these specifications need to be supplemented by further specifications which must remain secret in order to prevent counterfeiting and falsification; whereas power to decide on further specifications should be conferred on the Commission; whereas, having regard to the object of this Regulation, it is appropriate that these decisions should be adopted according to procedure III(a) provided for in Council decision 87/373/EEC;2

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas this Regulation only lays down such specifications of the format that are not secret; whereas the secret specifications may not include or refer to personal data, but must be confined to data necessary to prevent counterfeiting and falsification; whereas these specifications need to be supplemented by further specifications which must remain secret and whose aim must in all cases be to prevent counterfeiting and falsification; whereas power to decide on further specifications should be conferred on the Commission; whereas, having regard to the object of this Regulation, it is appropriate that these decisions should be adopted according to procedure II(b) provided for in Council decision 87/373/EEC;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 6

>Original text>

Whereas to be effective this Regulation should apply to all types of visa, since otherwise the uniform format would be supplemented by national visas not covered by Community norms; whereas the uniform visa must be designed for use for different types of visa;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 6)

Article 2

>Original text>

Further specifications which shall render the visa difficult to counterfeit or falsify and which are of a secret nature, shall be added by the Commission according to the procedure set out in Article 6.

>Text following EP vote>

Further specifications designed solely to render the visa difficult to counterfeit or falsify and which are of a secret nature, shall be added by the Commission according to the procedure set out in Article 6.

(Amendment 8)

Article 4(1)

>Original text>

1. In its presentation, production and use the uniform format shall conform to the relevant provisions relating to personal data protection.

>Text following EP vote>

1. In its presentation, production and use the uniform format shall conform to the relevant provisions relating to personal data protection, in particular the European Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data of 28 January 1981, and the recommendation No R (87) 15 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe regulating the use of personal data in the police sector adopted on 17 September 1987.

(Amendment 7)

Article 6, third, fourth and fifth paragraphs

>Original text>

The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if they are in accordance with the opinion of the committee.

If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall, without delay, submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority.

If, on the expiry of two months, the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event:

- the Commission shall defer application of the measures which it has decided for a period to be laid down in each act adopted by the Council, but which may in no case exceed three months from the date of communication;

- the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in the previous indent.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation laying down a uniform format for visas (COM(94)0287 - C4-0115/94 - 94/0163(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(94)0287 - 94/0163(CNS) ((OJ C 238, 26.8.1994, p. 8.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 100c(3) of the EC Treaty (C4-0115/94),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy (A4-0117/94),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to amend its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

5. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.