Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of the issuance of visas - Declarations
Date: 2007-09-18
Institutions: European Community, Montenegro
Subjects: EU visa policy, Montenegro, agreement (EU)

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between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of the issuance
of visas

AGREEMENT

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Community’,

and

THE REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO,

hereinafter referred to as ‘the Parties’,

HAVING REGARD to the European perspective of the Republic of Montenegro, the Stabilisation and Association Agree-
ment (SAA) negotiations between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro,

REAFFIRMING, the intention to cooperate closely within the framework of the future SAA structures for the liberalisation
of the visa regime between the Republic of Montenegro and the European Union, in line with the conclusions of the
EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Thessaloniki on 21 June 2003,

DESIRING, as a first concrete step towards the visa free travel regime, to facilitate people-to-people contacts as an important
condition for a steady development of economic, humanitarian, cultural, scientific and other ties, by facilitating the issuing
of visas to citizens of the Republic of Montenegro,

BEARING IN MIND that, all EU citizens are exempted from the visa requirement when travelling to the Republic of Mon-
tenegro for a period of time not exceeding 90 days or transiting through the territory of the Republic of Montenegro,

RECOGNISING that if the Republic of Montenegro was to reintroduce the visa requirement for EU citizens, the same facili-
tations granted under this agreement to the citizens of the Republic of Montenegro would automatically, on the basis of
reciprocity, apply to EU citizens,

RECOGNISING that visa facilitation should not lead to illegal migration and paying special attention to security and
readmission,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland and the Protocol integrating the
Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty estab-
lishing the European Community and confirming that the provisions of this agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom
and Ireland,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the
Treaty establishing the European Community and confirming that the provisions of this agreement do not apply to the King-
dom of Denmark,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Purpose and scope of application

Article 2

General clause

The purpose of this Agreement is to facilitate the issuance
1.
of visas for an intended stay of no more than 90 days per period
of 180 days to the citizens of the Republic of Montenegro.

1.
The visa facilitations provided in this Agreement shall apply
to citizens of the Republic of Montenegro only insofar as they are
not exempted from the visa requirement by the laws and regula-
tions of the Community or the Member States, the present agree-
ment or other international agreements.

2.
If the Republic of Montenegro was to reintroduce the visa
requirement for EU citizens or certain categories of EU citizens,
the same facilitations granted under this agreement to the citizens
of the Republic of Montenegro would automatically, on the basis
of reciprocity, apply to EU citizens concerned.

2.
The citizen law of the Republic of Montenegro, or of the
Member States or Community law shall apply to issues not cov-
ered by the provisions of this Agreement, such as the refusal to
issue a visa, recognition of travel documents, proof of sufficient
means of subsistence and the refusal of entry and expulsion
measures.

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Article 3

Definitions

For the purpose of this Agreement:

state or local authorities of the Member States or orga-
nising committees of trade and industrial exhibitions,
conferences and symposia held in the territories of the
Member States, endorsed by a Chamber of Commerce,
the Union of Employers of the Republic of Montenegro
or the Montenegro Business Alliance;

(a)

‘Member State’ shall mean any Member State of the European
Union, with the exception of the Kingdom of Denmark, the
Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom;

(b)

‘Citizen of the European Union’ shall mean a citizen of a
Member State as defined in point (a);

(c)

‘Citizen of the Republic of Montenegro’: shall mean a person
who holds the citizenship of the Republic of Montenegro;

(c) drivers conducting international cargo and passenger trans-
portation services to the territories of the Member States in
vehicles registered in the Republic of Montenegro:

— a written request from the national association of carri-
ers of the Republic of Montenegro providing for inter-
national
road transportation, stating the purpose,
duration and frequency of the trips;

(d)

‘Visa’ shall mean an authorisation issued by a Member State
or a decision taken by such State which is required with a
view to:

(d)

for members of train, refrigerator and locomotive crews trav-
elling to the territories of the Member States:

— entry for an intended stay in that Member State or in
several Member States of no more than 90 days in total,

— entry for transit through the territory of that Member

State or several Member States.

(e)

‘legally residing person’ shall mean a citizen of the Republic
of Montenegro authorised or entitled to stay for more than
90 days in the territory of a Member State, on the basis of
Community or national legislation.

Article 4

Documentary evidence regarding the purpose of the
journey

For the following categories of citizens of the Republic of
1.
Montenegro the following documents are sufficient for justifying
the purpose of the journey to the other Party:

(a) members of official delegations who, following an official
invitation addressed to the Republic of Montenegro, shall
participate in meetings, consultations, negotiations or
exchange programmes, as well as in events held in the terri-
intergovernmental
States
tory of
organisations:

the Member

by

— a letter issued by an authority from the Republic of Mon-
tenegro confirming that the applicant is a member of the
its delegation travelling to the territory of the Member
States to participate in the aforementioned events,
accompanied by a copy of the official invitation;

(b) business

people

and

representatives

of

business

organisations:

— a written request from the competent railway company
of the Republic of Montenegro, stating the purpose,
duration and frequency of the trips;

(e)

journalists:

— a certificate or other document issued by a professional
organisation proving that the person concerned is a
qualified journalist and a document issued by his/her
employer stating that the purpose of the journey is to
carry out journalistic work;

(f) persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic activi-

ties, including university and other exchange programmes:

— a written request from the host organisation to partici-

pate in those activities;

(g) pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying
teachers who undertake trips for the purposes of study or
educational training, including in the framework of exchange
programmes as well as other school-related activities:

— a written request or a certificate of enrolment from the
host university, academy, college or school or student
cards or certificates of the courses to be attended;

(h) participants in international sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity:

— a written request from a host legal person or company,
or an office or branch of such legal person or company,

— a written request from the host organisation: competent
authorities, National Sports Federations or National
Olympic Committees of the Member States;

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(i) participants in official exchange programmes organised by

(q)

twin cities:

representatives of the religious communities in the Republic
of Montenegro:

— a written request of the head of administration/mayor of

these cities;

— a written request from a religious community registered
in the Republic of Montenegro, stating the purpose,
duration and frequency of trips;

(j)

close relatives — spouse, children (including adopted), par-
ents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchildren
visiting citizens of the Republic of Montenegro legally resid-
ing in the territory of the Member States:

— a written request from the host person;

(k)

for visiting military and civil burial grounds:

— an official document confirming the existence and pres-
ervation of the grave as well as family or other relation-
ship between the applicant and the buried;

(l) persons visiting for medical reasons and necessary accompa-

nying persons:

— an official document of the medical institution confirm-
ing necessity of medical care in this institution and the
necessity of being accompanied, and proof of sufficient
financial means to pay for the medical treatment;

(m) persons visiting for burial ceremonies:

— an official document confirming the fact of death, as
well as confirmation of the family or other relationship
between the applicant and the buried;

(n)

for representatives of civil society organisations when under-
taking trips for the purposes of educational training, semi-
nars, conferences, including in the framework of exchange
programmes:

— a written request issued by the host organisation, a con-
firmation that the person is representing the civil soci-
ety organisation and the certificate on establishment of
such organisation from the relevant Register issued by a
state authority in accordance with the national
legislation;

(o) members of the professions participating in international
exhibitions, conferences, symposia, seminars or other simi-
lar events held in the territory of the Member States:

— a written request from the host organisation confirming
that the person concerned is participating in the event;

(p)

judges participating in international exchange programmes,
symposia, seminars or similar training events held in the ter-
ritory of the Member States:

— a written request from the host organisation to partici-

pate in those activities;

(r) persons travelling for tourism:

— a certificate or voucher from a travel agency or a tour
operator accredited by Member States in the framework
of the local consular cooperation confirming the book-
ing of an organised trip;

The written request mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article

2.
shall contain the following items:

(a)

for the invited person — name and surname, date of birth,
sex, citizenship, number of the identity document, time and
purpose of the journey, number of entries and where relevant
the name of the spouse and children accompanying the
invited person;

(b)

for the inviting person — name, surname and address; or

(c)

for the inviting legal person, company or organisation — full
name and address and:

— if the invitation is issued by an organisation, the name
and position of the person who signs the invitation,

— if the inviting person is a legal person or company or an
office or a branch of such legal person or company
established in the territory of a Member State, the regis-
tration number as required by the national law of the
Member State concerned.

3.
For the categories of persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of
this article, all categories of visa are issued according to the sim-
plified procedure without requiring any other justification, invi-
tation or validation concerning the purpose of the journey,
provided for by the legislation of the Member States.

Article 5

Issuance of multiple-entry visas

1.
Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
States shall issue multiple-entry visas with a term of validity of up
to five years to the following categories of persons:

(a) members of the National Government, Parliament, Constitu-
tional Court and Supreme Court, President of the Court of
Appeals, President of the Administrative Court in case they
are not exempted from the visa requirement by the present
Agreement, in the exercise of their duties, with the term of
validity limited to their term of office if this is less than
five years;

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(b) permanent members of official delegations who, following
an official invitation addressed to the Republic of Montene-
gro, shall regularly participate in meetings, consultations,
negotiations or exchange programmes, as well as in events
held in the territory of the Member States by intergovern-
mental organisations;

(k) persons needing to visit regularly for medical reasons and

necessary accompanying persons;

(l)

representatives of religious communities registered in the
Republic of Montenegro, who regularly travel to the Mem-
ber States.

(c)

spouse and children (including adopted), who are under the
age of 21 or are dependant, visiting citizens of the Republic
of Montenegro legally residing in the territory of the Mem-
ber States with the term of validity limited to the duration of
the validity of their authorisation for legal residence.

(m) representatives of civil society organisations travelling regu-
larly to Member States for the purposes of educational train-
ing, seminars, conferences, including in the framework of
exchange programmes;

2.
Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
States shall issue multiple-entry visas with a term of validity of up
to one year to the following categories of persons, provided that
during the previous year they have obtained at least one visa, have
made use of it in accordance with the laws on entry and stay of
the visited State and that there are reasons for requesting a
multiple-entry visa:

(a) members of official delegations who, following an official
invitation addressed to the Republic of Montenegro, shall
regularly participate in meetings, consultations, negotiations
or exchange programmes, as well as in events held in the ter-
ritory of
intergovernmental
organisations;

the Member States by

(b) business people and representatives of business organisations

who regularly travel to the Member States;

(c) drivers conducting international cargo and passenger trans-
portation services to the territories of the Member States in
vehicles registered in the Republic of Montenegro;

(d) members of train, refrigerator and locomotive crews in inter-
national trains, travelling to the territories of the Member
States;

(e) members of the professions participating in international
exhibitions, conferences, symposia, seminars or other simi-
lar events who regularly travel to the Member States;

(f) persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic activi-
ties, including university and other exchange programmes,
who regularly travel to the Member States;

(g) participants in international sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity;

(h)

journalists;

(i) participants in official exchange programmes organised by

twin cities;

(n)

judges participating in international exchange programmes,
symposia, seminars or similar training events, who regularly
travel to the Member States.

Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
3.
States shall issue multiple-entry visas with a term of validity of a
minimum of two years and a maximum of five years to the cat-
egories of persons referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, pro-
vided that during the previous two years they have made use of
the one year multiple-entry visas in accordance with the laws on
entry and stay of the visited State and that the reasons for request-
ing a multiple-entry visa are still valid.

4.
The total period of stay of persons referred to in para-
graphs 1 to 3 of this Article shall not exceed 90 days per period
of 180 days in the territory of the Member States.

Article 6

Fees for processing visa applications

The fee for processing visa applications of citizens of the

1.
Republic of Montenegro shall amount to EUR 35.

The aforementioned amount may be reviewed in accordance with
the procedure provided for in Article 14(4).

If the Republic of Montenegro was to reintroduce the visa require-
ment for EU citizens, the visa fee to be charged by the Republic
of Montenegro shall not be higher than EUR 35 or the amount
agreed if the fee is reviewed in accordance with the procedure
provided for in Article 14(4).

Fees for processing the visa application are waived for the

2.
following categories of persons:

(a) members of the National Government, Parliament, Constitu-
tional Court and Supreme Court, president of the Court of
Appeals, president of the Administrative Court, persons men-
tioned in the Article 5(1), point (a) if they are not exempted
from the visa requirement by the present Agreement;

(j)

students and post-graduate students who regularly travel for
the purposes of study or educational training, including in
the framework of exchange programmes;

(b) close relatives — spouse, children (including adopted) par-
ents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchildren
visiting citizens of the Republic of Montenegro, legally resid-
ing in the territory of the Member States;

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(c) members of officials delegations who, following an official
invitation addressed to the Republic of Montenegro shall par-
ticipate in meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange
programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of the
Member States by intergovernmental organisations;

(d) pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying
teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or edu-
cational training;

(e) disabled persons and the person accompanying them,

if

necessary;

(f) persons who have presented documents proving the neces-
sity of their travel on humanitarian grounds, including to
receive urgent medical treatment and the person accompa-
nying such person, or to attend a funeral of a close relative
or to visit a seriously ill close relative;

Article 7

Length of procedures for processing visa applications

1.
Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
States shall take a decision on the request to issue a visa within 10
calendar days of the date of the receipt of the application and
documents required for issuing the visa.

The period of time for taking a decision on a visa applica-
2.
tion may be extended to up to 30 calendar days in individual
cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.

The period of time for taking a decision on a visa applica-
3.
tion may be reduced to three working days or less in urgent cases.

Article 8

Departure in case of lost or stolen documents

(g) participants in international sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity;

(h) persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic activi-

ties including university and other exchange programmes;

(i) participants in official exchange programmes organised by

Citizens of the European Union and of the Republic of Montene-
gro who have lost their identity documents, or from whom these
documents have been stolen while staying in the territory of the
Republic of Montenegro or the Member States, may leave that ter-
ritory on the basis of valid identity documents entitling them to
cross the border issued by diplomatic missions or consular posts
of the Member States or of the Republic of Montenegro without
any visa or other authorisation.

twin cities;

(j)

journalists;

(k) pensioners;

(l)

judges participating in international exchange programmes,
symposia, seminars or similar training events;

(m) representatives of religious communities registered in the

Republic of Montenegro;

(n)

representatives of civil society organisations travelling to
attend meetings, seminars, exchange programmes or train-
ing courses;

(o) Members of the professions participating in international
exhibitions, conferences, symposia, seminars or other simi-
lar events held in the territory of the Member States;

(p) Drivers conducting international cargo and passenger trans-
portation services to the territories of the Member States in
vehicles registered in the Republic of Montenegro;

(q) Members of train, refrigerator and locomotive crews in inter-
national trains, travelling to the territories of the Member
States;

(r) Children under six years of age.

Article 9

Extension of visa in exceptional circumstances

Citizens of the Republic of Montenegro who do not have the pos-
sibility to leave the territory of the Member States by the time
stated in their visas for reasons of force majeure shall have the term
of their visas extended free of charge in accordance with the leg-
islation applied by the receiving State for the period required for
their return to the State of their residence.

Article 10

Diplomatic passports

1.
Citizens of the Republic of Montenegro, holders of valid
diplomatic passports can enter, leave and transit through the ter-
ritories of the Member States without visas.

2.
Persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article may stay
in the territories of the Member States for a period not exceeding
90 days per period of 180 days.

Article 11

Territorial validity of visas

Subject to the citizen rules and regulations concerning citizen
security of the Member States and subject to EU rules on visas
with limited territorial validity, citizens of the Republic of Mon-
tenegro shall be entitled to travel within the territory of the Mem-
ber States on an equal basis with European Union citizens.

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Article 12

Joint Committee for management of the Agreement

Member States concerned or the Republic of Montenegro to
denounce or suspend these bilateral agreements during this period
of five years.

1.
The Parties shall set up a Joint Committee of experts (here-
inafter referred to as ‘the Committee’), composed by representa-
tives of the European Community and of the Republic of
Montenegro. The Community shall be represented by the Com-
mission of the European Communities, assisted by experts from
the Member States.

2.

The Committee shall, in particular, have the following tasks:

(a) monitoring the implementation of the present Agreement;

(b)

(c)

suggesting amendments or additions
Agreement;

to the present

settling disputes arising out of the interpretation or applica-
tion of the provisions in this Agreement.

The Committee shall meet whenever necessary at the

3.
request of one of the Parties and at least once a year.

4.

The Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.

Article 13

Relation of this Agreement with bilateral Agreements
between Member States and the Republic of Montenegro

1.
As from its entry into force, this Agreement shall take pre-
cedence over provisions of any bilateral or multilateral agree-
ments or arrangements concluded between individual Member
States and the Republic of Montenegro, insofar as the provisions
of the latter agreements or arrangements cover issues dealt with
by the present Agreement.

2.
The provisions of bilateral Agreements or arrangements
between individual Member States and the Republic of Montene-
gro signed before 1 January 2007 providing for the exemption of
the holders of service passports from the visa requirement, shall
continue to apply for a period of five years from the entry into
force of this Agreement without prejudice to the right of the

Article 14

Final clauses

This Agreement shall be ratified or approved by the Parties
1.
in accordance with their respective procedures and shall enter into
force on the first day of the second month following the date on
which the Parties notify each other that the procedures referred to
above have been completed.

2.
By way of derogation to paragraph 1 of this Article, the
present agreement shall only enter into force on the date of the
entry into force of the Agreement between the European Com-
munity and the Republic of Montenegro on readmission of per-
sons if this date is after the date provided for in paragraph 1 of
this Article.

This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of
3.
time, unless terminated in accordance with paragraph 6 of this
Article.

This Agreement may be amended by written agreement of
4.
the Parties. Amendments shall enter into force after the Parties
have notified each other of the completion of their internal pro-
cedures necessary for this purpose.

5.
Each Party may suspend in whole or in part this Agreement
for reasons of public order, protection of citizen security or pro-
tection of public health. The decision on suspension shall be noti-
fied to the other Party not later than 48 hours before its entry into
force. The Party that has suspended the application of this Agree-
ment shall immediately inform the other Party once the reasons
for the suspension no longer apply.

Each Party may terminate this Agreement by giving written
6.
notice to the other Party. This Agreement shall cease to be in force
90 days after the date of such notification.

Done at Brussels on the eighteenth day of September in the year two thousand and seven in duplicate in each
of the official languages of the Parties, each of these texts being equally authentic.

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За Европейската общност
Por la Comunidad Europea
Za Evropské společenství
For Det Europæiske Fællesskab
Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft
Euroopa Ühenduse nimel
Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα
For the European Community
Pour la Communauté européenne
Per la Comunità europea
Eiropas Kopienas vārdā
Europos bendrijos vardu
Az Európai Közösség részéről
Għall-Komunitá Ewropea
Voor de Europese Gemeenschap
W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej
Pela Comunidade Europeia
Pentru Comunitatea Europeană
Za Európske spoločenstvo
Za Evropsko skupnost
Euroopan yhteisön puolesta
För Europeiska gemenskapen
Za Evropsku Zajednicu

За Република Черна гора
Por la República de Montenegro
Za Republiku Ċerná Hora
For Republikken Montenegro
Für die Republik Montenegro
Montenegro Vabariigi nimel
Για τη Δημοκρατία του Μαυροβουνίου
For the Republic of Montenegro
Pour la République du Monténégro
Per la Repubblica del Montenegro
Melnkalnes Republikas vārdā
Juodkalnijos Respublikos vardu
A Montenegrói Köztársaság részéről
Għar-Repubblika ta’ Montenegro
Voor de Republiek Montenegro
W imieniu Republiki Czarnogóry
Pela República do Montenegro
Pentru Republica Muntenegru
Za Čiernohorskú republiku
Za Republiko Črno goro
Montenegron tasavallan puolesta
För Republiken Montenegro
Za Republiku Crnu Goru

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PROTOCOL TO THE AGREEMENT ON THE MEMBER STATES THAT DO NOT FULLY APPLY THE
SCHENGEN ACQUIS

ANNEX

Those Member States which are bound by the Schengen acquis but which do not issue yet Schengen visas, while awaiting the
relevant decision of the Council to that end, shall issue citizen visas the validity of which is limited to their own territory.

These Member States may unilaterally recognise Schengen visas and residence permits for the transit through their territory,
in accordance with European Parliament and Council Decision No 895/2006/EC of 14 June 2006.

As European Parliament and Council Decision No 895/2006/EC of 14 June 2006 does not apply to Romania and Bulgaria;
similar provisions will be proposed by the European Commission in order to enable these countries to unilaterally recognise
Schengen visas and residence permits and other similar documents issued by other Member States not yet fully integrated
into the Schengen area for the purpose of transit through their territory.

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JOINT DECLARATION CONCERNING DENMARK

The Parties take note that the present Agreement does not apply to the procedures for issuing visas by the dip-
lomatic missions and consular posts of the Kingdom of Denmark.

In such circumstances, it is desirable that the authorities of Denmark and of the Republic of Montenegro con-
clude, without delay, a bilateral agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of short-stay visas in similar terms
as the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro.

JOINT DECLARATION CONCERNING THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

The Parties take note that the present Agreement does not apply to the territory of the United Kingdom and
Ireland.

In such circumstances, it is desirable that the authorities of the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Republic of
Montenegro, conclude bilateral agreements on the facilitation of the issuance of visas.

JOINT DECLARATION CONCERNING ICELAND AND NORWAY

The Parties take note of the close relationship between the European Community and Norway and Iceland,
particularly by virtue of the Agreement of 18 May 1999 concerning the association of these countries with
the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis.

In such circumstances, it is desirable that the authorities of Norway, Iceland and the Republic of Montenegro
conclude, without delay, bilateral agreements on the facilitation of the issuance of short-stay visas in similar
terms as the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro.

JOINT DECLARATION CONCERNING SWISS CONFEDERATION AND LIECHTENSTEIN

(if needed)

If the Agreement between the EU, the EC and the Swiss Confederation concerning the Swiss Confederation’s
association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis and the Protocols
to this Agreement concerning Liechtenstein has entered into force by the time negotiations with the Republic
of Montenegro have concluded, a similar declaration will also be made in respect of Switzerland and
Liechtenstein.

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EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DECLARATION ON REVIEWING THE
VISA REQUIREMENT FOR HOLDERS OF SERVICE PASSPORTS

As the exemption of the holders of service passports from the visa requirement provided in bilateral Agree-
ments or arrangements between individual Member States and the Republic of Montenegro which have been
signed before 1 January 2007 shall only continue to apply for a period of five years from the entry into force
of this Agreement without prejudice to the right of the Member States concerned or the Republic of Montene-
gro to denounce or suspend these bilateral agreements during this period of five years, the European Com-
munity will reassess the situation of the holders of service passports at the latest four years after the entry into
force of this Agreement, in view of a possible amendment of the Agreement to that end in accordance with
the procedure provided in Article 14(4).

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DECLARATION ON ACCESS OF VISA APPLICANTS AND
HARMONISATION OF INFORMATION ON PROCEDURES FOR ISSUING SHORT-STAY VISAS
AND DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED WHEN APPLYING FOR SHORT-STAY VISAS

Recognising the importance of transparency for visa applicants, the European Community recalls that the leg-
islative proposal on the recast of the Common Consular Instructions on visas for the diplomatic missions and
consular posts has been adopted on 19 July 2006 by the European Commission and addresses the issue of
conditions of access of visa applicants to diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member States.

Regarding the information to be provided to visa applicants the European Community considers that appro-
priate measures should be taken:

— In general, to draw up basic information for applicants on the procedures and conditions for applying for

visas and on their validity.,

— The European Community will draw up a list of minimum requirements in order to ensure that appli-
cants from the Republic of Montenegro are given coherent and uniform basic information and are required
to submit, in principle, the same supporting documents.

The information mentioned above including the list of accredited travel agencies and tour operators in the
framework of local consular cooperation is to be disseminated widely (on the notice boards of consulates, in
leaflets, on websites etc.).

The diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member States shall provide information about existing pos-
sibilities under the Schengen acquis for facilitation of the issuing of short-stay visas on a case-by-case basis.

19.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 334/119

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DECLARATION ON FACILITATIONS
FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND BONA FIDE APPLICANTS

The European Community takes note of the suggestion of the Republic of Montenegro to give a wider defi-
nition to the notion of family members that should benefit from visa facilitation as well as of the importance
that the Republic of Montenegro attaches to the simplification of movement of this category of persons.

In order to ease the mobility of an extended number of persons which have family links (in particular sisters
and brothers and their children) with citizens of the Republic of Montenegro legally residing in the territories
of Member States, the European Community invites the Member States’ consular offices to make full use of
the existing possibilities in the acquis communautaire for facilitating the issuance of visas to this category of per-
sons, including in particular, the simplification of documentary evidence requested for the applicants, exemp-
tions from handling fees and where appropriate the issuing of multiple entry visas.

In addition, the European Community also invites the Member States’ consular offices to make full use of these
possibilities for the facilitation of the issuance of visas to bona fide applicants.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DECLARATION ON SEAMEN

In line with international agreements on the mobility of civilian ships crew members, the European Commu-
nity invites Member States consular offices to make full use of the existing possibilities in the acquis commu-
nautaire for facilitating the issuance of transit visas to seamen from Montenegro. This includes in particular,
the simplification of documentary evidence requested for the applicants and the issuing of multiple entry tran-
sit visas.