Council Regulation (EC) No 334/2002 of 18 February 2002 amending Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas
Date: 2002-02-18
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU visa policy, European standard, admission of aliens, identity document, technical specification

23.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 53/7

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 334/2002

of 18 February 2002

amending Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(8)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 62(2)(b)(iii) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Whereas:

The powers to adopt such common standards should be
conferred on the Committee set up by Article 6 of
Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 which should be adapted
to take account of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28
June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise
of
implementing powers conferred on the Commis-
sion (4).

(9)

Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 should therefore be
amended.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 (3)
uniform format for visas.

laid down a

(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation to make
the uniform format for visas more secure do not affect
the rules currently governing recognition of the validity
of travel documents.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Measure No 38 of the Vienna Action Plan, adopted by
the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 3 December
1998, states that attention must be given to new tech-
nical developments in order to ensure, where appro-
priate, greater security in the uniform format for visas.

Conclusion No 22 of the Tampere European Council of
15 and 16 October 1999 states that a common active
policy on visas and false documents should be further
developed.

The establishment of a uniform visa format is an essen-
tial element in the harmonisation of visa policy.

It is necessary to make provision for the establishment
of common standards relating to the implementation of
the uniform format for visas, in particular common rules
on the technical methods and standards to be used for
filling in the form.

The integration of a photograph produced according to
high security standards is a first step towards the use of
elements establishing a more reliable link between the
uniform format visa and the holder as an important
contribution to ensuring that the uniform format for
visas is protected even against fraudulent use. The speci-
fications set out in ICAO (International Civil Aviation
Organisation) document 9303 on machine readable
visas will be taken into account.

Common standards relating to the implementation of
the uniform format for visas are essential to meet high
technical standards and to facilitate detection of forged
or falsified visa stickers.

(1) OJ C 180 E, 26.6.2001, p. 310.
(2) Opinion delivered on 12 December 2001 (not yet published in the

Official Journal).

(3) OJ L 164, 14.7.1995, p. 1.

(11)

The conditions governing entry into the territory of the
Member States or the issue of visas do not affect the
rules currently governing recognition of the validity of
travel documents.

(12) As regards the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of
Norway, this Regulation constitutes a development of
the provisions of the Schengen acquis falling within the
area referred to in Article 1, point B, of 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 (5).

(13)

(14)

In accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol on the
position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to
the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty estab-
lishing the European Community, the United Kingdom
gave notice, by letter of 4 December 2001, of its wish to
take part in the adoption and application of this Regula-
tion.

In accordance with Article 1 of the Protocol on the
position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to
the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty estab-
lishing the European Community, Ireland is not partici-
pating in the adoption of this Regulation. As a result,
and without prejudice to Article 4 of the said Protocol,
the provisions of
this Regulation do not apply to
Ireland,

(4) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
(5) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.

L 53/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

23.2.2002

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 is hereby amended as follows:

1. Article 2 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Article 2

1.
Further technical specifications for the uniform format
for visas relating to the following shall be established in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 6(2):

(a) additional elements and security requirements including
enhanced anti-forgery, counterfeiting and falsification
standards;

(b) technical standards and methods to be used for the

filling in of the uniform visa.

2.
The colours of the visa sticker may be changed in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 6(2).’

2. Article 6 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Article 6

1.

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5
and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC (*) shall apply.

The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/
468/EC shall be set at two months.

3.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

after

technical measures
years
provided for the adoption of this measure in Article 2.’

adoption of

the

the

4. The following point shall be inserted in the Annex:

‘2a. An integrated photograph produced according to

high security standards.’

Article 2

The first sentence of Annex 8 of the final version of the
Common Consular Instructions and Annex 6 of
the final
version of the Common Manual as they stand following the
Decision of the Schengen Executive Committee of 28 April
1999 (1) shall be replaced by the following:

‘The technical and security features for the visa sticker
format are contained in, or adopted on the basis of,
Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 of 29 May 1995
laying down a uniform format
last
amended by Regulation (EC) No 334/2002 (**).

for visas (*), as

(*) OJ L 164, 14.7.1995, p. 1.
(**) OJ L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 7.’

Article 3

This Regulation shall not affect the powers of the Member
States regarding recognition of States and territorial entities
and passports,
identity documents and travel documents
issued by their authorities.

(*) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.’

Article 4

3. The following subparagraph shall be added to Article 8:

‘The integration of the photograph provided for in point
2a of the Annex shall be implemented at the latest five

into force on the 20th day
This Regulation shall enter
following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member
States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Done at Brussels, 18 February 2002.

For the Council

The President

J. PIQUÉ I CAMPS

(1) OJ L 239, 22.9.2000, p. 317.