Initiative of the Hellenic Republic with a view to adopting a Council Decision determining the minimum indications to be used on signs at external border crossing points
Date: 2003-05-27
Institutions: Greece
Subjects: European symbol, border control, external border of the EU, free movement of persons, traffic signs

C 125/6

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Official Journal of the European Union

27.5.2003

II

(Preparatory Acts pursuant to Title VI of the Treaty on European Union)

Initiative of the Hellenic Republic with a view to adopting a Council Decision determining the
minimum indications to be used on signs at external border crossing points

(2003/C 125/06)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the initiative of the Hellenic Republic (1),

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

Whereas:

States

contained

(1) It is necessary to update the existing indications on signs at
external air border crossing points marking the channels
for persons entering and/or leaving the territory of the
Executive
Member
Committee Decision SCH/COM-EX(94) 17, rev 4 of 22
December 1994,
the
Agreement on the European Economic Area and of the
Agreement between the European Community and its
the one part, and the Swiss Confe-
Member States, of
deration, of
the other part, on the free movement of
persons.

account of

in order

Schengen

to take

in

Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those
two States with the implementation, application and devel-
opment of the Schengen acquis (3), which fall within the
area referred to in Article 1, point A of Council Decision
1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for
the application of that Agreement (4).

take part,

(5) This Decision constitutes a development of provisions of
the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom does
not
in accordance with 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 (5);
taking
part in its adoption and is not bound by it or subject to
its application.

the United Kingdom is therefore not

(6) This Decision constitutes a development of provisions of
the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in
accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28
February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part
the Schengen acquis (6);
in some of
Ireland is therefore not taking part in its adoption and is
not bound by it or subject to its application.

the provisions of

(2) Accordingly,

in a uniform
it is necessary to determine,
manner, the minimum indications for new signs marking
the passenger channels at external
land and sea borders,
where such channels are used.

(7) This Decision constitutes an act building on the Schengen
acquis or otherwise related to it within the meaning of
Article 3(2) of the 2003 Act of Accession,

(3) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the
position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European
Union and to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption
of this Decision, and is not bound by it or subject to its
application. Given that this decision aims to implement the
provisions of the Schengen acquis in accordance with the
provisions of Title IV of Part Three of the Treaty estab-
lishing the European Community, Denmark shall,
in
the said Protocol, decide
accordance with Article 5 of
within a period of six months after
the Council has
adopted this Decision whether it will implement it in its
national law.

(4) As regards Iceland and Norway, this Decision constitutes a
development of 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

(1) . . .
(2) . . .

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Member States shall provide separate lanes at authorised air
border crossing points at their external borders in order to
carry out
the necessary border checks on persons entitled
under Community law and other persons. The lanes shall be
differentiated by means of the signs referred to in Article 2.

The same signs shall be used if Member States wish to provide
separate lanes at land and sea border crossing points at their
external borders.

(3) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36.
(4) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.
(5) OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43.
(6) OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Article 2

Article 5

The indications on the signs, which may be displayed elec-
tronically, shall be as follows:

— The emblem of the European Union with the letters ‘EU’,
‘EEA’ and ‘CH’ within the circle of stars and the word
‘CITIZENS’ beneath the circle of stars, as shown in Annex I.

— The words ‘ALL NATIONALITIES’, as shown in Annex II.

Point 2 of the Annex (SCH/I-Front (94) 39 rev 9) to Schengen
Executive Committee Decision SCH/COM-EX(94) 17, rev 4 of
22 December 1994, together with point 2 of the decision
attached to that Annex on introducing and applying the
Schengen arrangements in airports and aerodromes (secondary
airports), shall be repealed.

Article 3

Article 6

Citizens of the EU, nationals of States parties to the Agreement
on the European Economic Area and nationals of the Swiss
Confederation shall, as a general rule, use the lane indicated by
the sign in Annex I. All other third-country nationals shall use
the lane indicated by the sign in Annex II.

However, in the event of a temporary imbalance in the traffic
flows at a particular border crossing point, this general rule
may be waived by the competent authorities for the time
necessary to eliminate such imbalance.

This Decision shall enter into force on . . . 2003.

Article 7

This Decision is addressed to the Member States in accordance
with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Article 4

Done at . . .

At land border crossing points, Member States may separate
vehicle traffic into different lanes for light and heavy vehicles,
by using signs as shown in Annex III.

For the Council

The President

. . .

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ANNEX I

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C 125/9

ANNEX II

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ANNEX III