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

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

AGREEMENT

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

and

THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Parties’;

HAVING REGARD to the European perspective of the Republic of Serbia, the opening of the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement (SAA) negotiations between the European Community/the EU Member States and the Republic of Serbia and the
European Partnership adopted by the Council in January 2006,

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 Serbia 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 Serbia,

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

RECOGNISING that if the Republic of Serbia was to reintroduce the visa requirement for EU citizens, the same facilitations
granted under this agreement to the citizens of the Republic of Serbia 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

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

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

2.
If the Republic of Serbia was to reintroduce the visa require-
ment for EU citizens or certain categories of EU citizens, the same
facilitations granted under this agreement to the citizens of the
Republic of Serbia would automatically, on the basis of reciproc-
ity, apply to EU citizens concerned.

2.
The national law of the Republic of Serbia, or of the Mem-
ber States or Community law shall apply to issues not covered 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

exhibitions, conferences and symposia held in the terri-
tories of the Member States, endorsed by the Chamber of
Commerce of the Republic of Serbia;

For the purpose of this Agreement:

(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 national of a
Member State as defined in point (a);

(c)

for drivers conducting international cargo and passenger
transportation services to the territories of the Member States
in vehicles registered in the Republic of Serbia;

— a written request from a national company or associa-
tion of carriers of the Republic of Serbia providing for
international road transportation, proving the purpose,
duration and frequency of the trips;

(c)

(d)

‘citizen of the Republic of Serbia’: shall mean any person who
holds the nationality of the Republic of Serbia in accordance
with its national legislation;

(d)

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

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

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

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

(e)

for journalists:

— 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 Serbia authorized or entitled to stay for more than 90 days
in the territory of a Member State, on the basis of Commu-
nity or national legislation.

(f)

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

for persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic
activities,
exchange
university
programmes:

and other

including

Article 4

Documentary evidence regarding the purpose
of the journey

— a written request from the host organisation to partici-

pate in those activities;

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

(g)

for pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompany-
ing 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)

for members of official delegations who, following an offi-
cial invitation addressed to the Republic of Serbia, 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:

— a letter issued by an authority from the Republic of Ser-
bia confirming that the applicant is a member of its del-
egation travelling to the other Party to participate in the
aforementioned events, accompanied by a copy of the
official invitation;

(b)

for business people and representatives of business
organisations:

— a written request from a host legal person or company,
organisation or an office or branch of such legal person
or company, state or local authorities of the Member
States or organising committees of trade and industrial

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

(h)

for participants in international sport events and persons
accompanying them in a professional capacity:

— a written request from the host organisation: competent
authorities, national sport Federations or National Olym-
pic Committees of the Member States;

(i)

for participants in official exchange programmes organised
by twin municipalities and cities:

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

these municipalities and cities;

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(j)

for close relatives — spouse, children (including adopted),
parents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchil-
dren, visiting citizens of the Republic of Serbia legally resid-
ing in the territories 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)

for persons attending burial ceremonies:

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 pur-
pose 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:

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

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

(m) for persons visiting for medical reasons and necessary accom-

panying persons:

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

(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)

for representatives of the religious communities in the
Republic of Serbia:

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

(p)

for 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;

(q)

for 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.

— 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.

For the categories of persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of
3.
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)

(b)

(c)

for members of national and provincial/regional Govern-
ments and Parliaments, the Constitutional Court and the
Supreme Court of Cassation 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;

for permanent members of official delegations who, follow-
ing an official invitation addressed to the Republic of Serbia,
shall regularly participate in meetings, consultations, nego-
tiations or exchange programmes, as well as in events held in
the territory of the Member States by intergovernmental
organisations;

for spouses and children (including adopted), who are under
the age of 21 or are dependent and parents visiting citizens
of the Republic of Serbia legally residing in the territory of
the Member States with the term of validity limited to the
duration of the validity of their authorisation for legal
residence.

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Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
2.
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)

for members of official delegations who, following an offi-
cial invitation addressed to the Republic of Serbia, shall regu-
larly participate in meetings, consultations, negotiations or
exchange programmes, as well as in events held in the terri-
tory of
intergovernmental
States
organisations;

the Member

by

(b)

for business people and representatives of business organisa-
tions who regularly travel to Member States;

(c)

(d)

for drivers conducting international cargo and passenger
transportation services to the territories of the Member States
in vehicles registered in the Republic of Serbia;

for members of train, refrigerator and locomotive crews in
international trains, travelling to the territories of the Mem-
ber States;

(e)

for journalists;

(f)

(g)

for persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic
activities,
including university and other exchange pro-
grammes who regularly travel to Member States;

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

(h)

for participants in international sport events and persons
accompanying them in a professional capacity;

(i)

(j)

(k)

for participants in official exchange programmes organised
by twin municipalities and cities;

for persons needing to visit regularly for medical reasons and
necessary accompanying persons;

for representatives of civil society organisations travelling
regularly to Member States for the purposes of educational
training, seminars, conferences, including in the framework
of exchange programmes;

(l)

for representatives of religious communities registered in the
Republic of Serbia, 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.

The total period of stay of persons referred to in para-
4.
graphs 1-3 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 Serbia shall amount to € 35.

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

If the Republic of Serbia was to reintroduce the visa requirement
for EU citizens, the visa fee to be charged by the Republic of Ser-
bia shall not be higher than €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)

(b)

(c)

(d)

for members of official delegations who, following an offi-
cial invitation addressed to the Republic of Serbia, shall par-
ticipate in meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange
programmes, as well as in events held in the territories of the
Member States by intergovernmental organisations;

for members of national and provincial/regional Govern-
ments and Parliaments, the Constitutional Court and the
Supreme Court of Cassation, in case they are not exempted
from the visa requirement by the present Agreement;

for persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic
activities,
exchange
university
programmes;

and other

including

for pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompany-
ing 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;

(e)

for participants in international sport events and persons
accompanying them in a professional capacity;

(f)

for participants in official exchange programmes organised
by twin municipalities and cities;

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

(g)

for disabled persons and the person accompanying them, if
necessary;

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(h)

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

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.

(i)

for persons who have presented documents proving the
necessity of their travel on humanitarian grounds, including
to receive urgent medical treatment and the person accom-
panying such person, or to attend a funeral of a close relative
or to visit a seriously ill close relative;

(j)

for journalists;

(k)

for drivers conducting international cargo and passenger
transportation services to the territories of the Member States
in vehicles registered in the Republic of Serbia;

(l)

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

(m) for close relatives — spouse, children (including adopted),
parents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchil-
dren, visiting citizens of the Republic of Serbia legally resid-
ing in the territories of the Member States.

(n)

for representatives of religious communities registered in the
Republic of Serbia, who regularly travel to the Member States;

(o)

for 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)

for pensioners;

(q)

for children under six years of age.

3.
By way of derogation from paragraph 1 above, Bulgaria and
Romania which are bound by the Schengen acquis but which do
not yet issue Schengen visas, may waive the fees for processing
national short stay visa applications for citizens of the Republic
of Serbia, until the day to be determined by the Council Decision
for their full implementation of the Schengen acquis on visa policy.

Article 7

Length of procedures for processing visa applications

Article 8

Departure in case of lost or stolen documents

Citizens of the European Union and of the Republic of Serbia who
have lost their identity documents, or from whom these docu-
ments have been stolen while staying in the territory of the
Republic of Serbia or the Member States, may leave that territory
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 Serbia without any visa or
other authorisation.

Article 9

Extension of visa in exceptional circumstances

The citizens of the Republic of Serbia 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 Serbia, holders of valid diplo-
matic passports can enter, leave and transit through the territo-
ries 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 national rules and regulations concerning national
security of the Member States and subject to EU rules on visas
with limited territorial validity, citizens of the Republic of Serbia
shall be entitled to travel within the territory of the Member States
on an equal basis with European Union citizens.

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.

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

Article 12

Joint Committee for management of the Agreement

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

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2.

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

(a) monitoring the implementation of the present Agreement;

(b)

suggesting amendments or additions
Agreement;

to the present

(c)

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 Serbia

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 Serbia, 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 Serbia
signed before 1 January 2007 providing for the exemption of the
holders of service passports from the visa requirement, shall con-
tinue 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 Serbia to denounce or sus-
pend these bilateral agreements during this period of five years.

Article 14

Final clauses

1.
This Agreement shall be ratified or approved by the Parties
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.

By way of derogation to paragraph 1 of this Article, the
2.
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 Serbia on readmission of persons if
this date is after the date provided for in paragraph 1 of this
Article.

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

4.
This Agreement may be amended by written agreement of
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 national 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.

6.
Each Party may terminate this Agreement by giving written
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
За Европску зајелницу

За Република Сърбия
Por la República de Serbia
Za Republiku Srbsko
For Republikken Serbien
Für die Republik Serbien
Serbia Vabariigi nimel
Για τη Δημοκρατία της Σερβίας
For the Republic of Serbia
Pour la République de Serbie
Per la Repubblica di Serbia
Serbijas Republikas vārdā
Serbijos Respublikos vardu
A Szerb Köztársaság részéről
Għar-Repubblika tas-Serbja
Voor de Republiek Servië
W imieniu Republiki Serbii
Pela República da Sérvia
Pentru Republica Serbia
Za Srbskú republiku
Za Republiko Srbijo
Serbian tasavallan puolesta
För Republiken Serbien
За Република Србиjу

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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 national 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 Serbia conclude,
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 Serbia.

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
Serbia, 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 Serbia con-
clude, 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 Serbia.

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 Serbia 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 Serbia 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 Serbia to
denounce or suspend these bilateral agreements during this period of five years, the European Community 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

Recognizing 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 currently under discus-
sions between the European Parliament and the Council, 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 Serbian appli-
cants are given coherent and uniform basic information and are required to submit, in principle, the same sup-
porting 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.

The European Community takes note of the readiness expressed by the Serbian authorities to assist in the dis-
semination of the above mentioned information.

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 334/147

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

The European Community takes note of the suggestion of the Republic of Serbia to give a wider definition to
the notion of family members that should benefit from visa facilitation as well as of the importance that the
Republic of Serbia 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 Serbia 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 persons, including in par-
ticular, the simplification of documentary evidence requested for the applicants, exemptions 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.

POLITICAL DECLARATION FROM BULGARIA, HUNGARY AND ROMANIA
ON LOCAL BORDER TRAFFIC

Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania declare their willingness to enter into negotiations of bilateral agreements with
the Republic of Serbia for the purpose of implementing the local border traffic regime established by the EC
Regulation No 1931/2006 of 20 December 2006 laying down rules on local border traffic at the external land
borders of the Member States and amending the provisions of the Schengen Convention.