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

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between the European Community and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the facilitation
of the issuance of visas

AGREEMENT

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

and

THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Parties’,

HAVING REGARD to the European Council decision of December 2005 to grant the former Yugoslav Republic of Mace-
donia, candidate country status,

HAVING REGARD to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Community and the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which was signed in April 2001 and entered into force on 1 April 2004 and which cur-
rently governs the relations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,

REAFFIRMING, the intention to cooperate closely within the framework of the existing SAA structures for the liberalization
of the visa regime between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the European Union, in line with the conclu-
sions of the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Thessaloniki on 21 June 2003,

RECOGNISING the progress made by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the area of justice, freedom and secu-
rity and, in particular, on migration, visa policy, border management and on document security,

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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,

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

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

to the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
would automatically, on the basis of reciprocity, apply to EU citi-
zens concerned.

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 former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia.

Article 2

General clause

2.
If the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was to rein-
troduce the visa requirement for EU citizens or certain categories
of EU citizens, the same facilitations granted under this agreement

1.
The visa facilitations provided in this Agreement shall apply
to citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 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.

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The national law of the former Yugoslav Republic of Mace-
2.
donia, or of the Member 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.

(b) Persons participating in scientific, research, cultural and artis-
including university and other exchange

tic activities,
programmes:

— a written request from the host organisation to partici-

pate in those activities;

Article 3

Definitions

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)

(d)

‘Citizen of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’: shall
mean any person who possesses the citizenship of the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;

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

— 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 former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia authorized 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

(c) Representatives of civil society organisations, when undertak-
ing trips for the purposes of educational training, seminars,
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;

(d)

Journalists:

— a certificate or other document issued by a professional
organization 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;

(e) Participants in international sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity:

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

(f) Business

people

and

representatives

of

business

organisations:

— a written request from a host legal person or company,
or an office or branch of such legal person or company,
or state or local authorities of the Member States or
organising committees of trade and industrial exhibi-
tions, conferences and symposia held in the territories of
Member States;

1.
For the following categories of citizens of the former Yugo-
slav Republic of Macedonia the following documents are suffi-
cient for justifying the purpose of the journey to the other Party:

(g) 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) Pupils, high school and university 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
educational or school-related activities:

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

(h) Participants in official exchange programmes organized by

twin cities:

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

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

these cities;

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(i) Drivers conducting international cargo and passenger trans-
portation services to the territories of the Member States in
vehicles registered in the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia:

— a written request from an association of carriers of the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia providing for
international road transportation, stating the purpose,
duration and frequency of the trips;

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

— written request from the competent railway company of
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia stating the
purpose, duration and frequency of the trips;

(k) Close relatives — spouse, children (including adopted), par-
ents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchildren
visiting citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Mace-
donia legally residing in the territory of the Member States:

(p) 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;

(q)

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;

The written request mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article

2.
shall contain the following items:

(a) or the invited person: name and surname, date of birth, sex,
citizenship, number of 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

— a written request from the host person;

(c)

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

(l) Representatives of the religious communities:

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

(m) Persons visiting for medical reasons and necessary accompa-

nying persons:

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

(n) Persons visiting for burial ceremonies:

— if the request is issued by an organisation, the name and

position of the person who signs the request,

— 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.

Article 5

Issuance of multiple-entry visas

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

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:

(o) Members of official delegations who, following an official
invitation addressed to the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia shall 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:

(a) Members of national government, Parliament, Constitutional
Court, Supreme Court, Judiciary Council and Public Prosecu-
tors Council, if they are not exempted from the visa require-
ment by the present Agreement, in the exercise of their
duties, with a term of validity limited to their term of office if
this is less than five years;

— a letter issued by an authority of the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia confirming that the applicant is
a member of its delegation, travelling to the other party
to participate at the aforementioned events, accompa-
nied by a copy of the official invitation;

(b) Permanent members of official delegations who following an
official invitation addressed to the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia shall regularly participate in meetings, consul-
tations, negotiations or exchange programmes, as well as in
events held in the territory of the Member States by intergov-
ernmental organisations;

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(c) Spouses and children (including adopted), who are under the
age of 21 or are dependent and parents (including custodi-
ans) visiting citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia legally residing in the territory of the Member
States, with the term of validity limited to the duration of the
validity of their authorization for legal residence;

(d) Business people and representatives of business organisations

who regularly travel to the Member States;

(j)

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

(k) Members of official delegations who, following an official
invitation addressed to the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, shall regularly participate in meetings, consulta-
tions, negotiations or exchange programmes, as well as in
events held in the territory of the Member States by intergov-
ernmental organisations.

(e)

Journalists;

(f) Representatives of religious communities registered in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who regularly travel
to the Member States.

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) Students and post-graduate students who regularly undertake
trips for the purposes of study or educational training, includ-
ing in the framework of exchange programmes;

(b) Persons who participate in scientific, research, cultural and
artistic activities, including university and other exchange
programs who regularly travel to the Member States;

(c) Participants in international sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity;

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

(e) 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;

(f)

Participants in official exchange programmes organized by
twin cities;

(g) Mayors and members of the municipal councils;

(h) Drivers conducting international cargo and passenger trans-
portation services to the territories of the Member States in
vehicles registered in the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia;

3.
Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
States shall issue multiple-entry visas with the 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, and
to other persons provided that during the previous year they have
made use of the one multiple-entry visa in accordance with the
laws on entry and stay of the visited State and that the reasons for
requesting 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

1.
The fee for processing visa applications of citizens of the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall amount to EUR 35.

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

If the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was to reintroduce
the visa requirement for EU citizens, the visa fee to be charged by
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall not be higher
than EUR 35 or the amount agreed if the fee is reviewed in accor-
dance 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)

close relatives — spouse, children (including adopted) par-
ents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchildren
of citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
legally residing in the territory of the Member States;

(b) members of official delegations who, following an official
invitation addressed to the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia shall 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;

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

(c) members of national government, Parliament, Constitutional
Court, Supreme Court, Judiciary Council and Public Prosecu-
tors Council, if they are not exempted from the visa require-
ment by the present Agreement;

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(d) mayors and members of the municipal councils;

Article 7

(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;

Length of procedures for processing visa applications

Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
1.
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.

(g) participants in international sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity;

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.

(h) persons participating in scientific, research, cultural and artis-
including university and other exchange

tic activities
programmes;

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

(i) participants in official exchange programmes organized by

twin cities;

(j)

journalists;

(k) pensioners;

(l)

drivers conducting international cargo and passenger trans-
portation services to the territories of the Member States in
vehicles registered in the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia;

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

Article 8

Departure in case of lost or stolen documents

Citizens of the European Union and of the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia who have lost their identity documents, or
from whom these documents have been stolen while staying in
the territory of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia or the
Member States, may leave that territory on the basis of valid iden-
tity documents entitling them to cross the border issued by dip-
lomatic missions or consular posts of the Member States or of the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia without any visa or other
authorisation.

(n)

representatives of civil society organisations when undertak-
ing trips to attend meetings, seminars, exchange programmes
or trainings courses;

Article 9

Extension of visa in exceptional circumstances

(o)

representatives of religious communities registered in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;

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

(q) 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 educational or school related
activities;

(r)

children under six years of age.

By way of derogation from paragraph 1 above, Bulgaria and
3.
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 former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, until the day to be determined
by the Council Decision for their full implementation of the
Schengen acquis on visa policy.

The citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia who
do not have the possibility to leave the territory of the Member
States by the time stated in their visas for reasons of force majeure,
humanitarian, serious occupational or personal reasons shall have
the term of their visas extended free of charge in accordance with
the legislation 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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
holders of valid diplomatic passports can enter, leave and transit
through the territories 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.

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Article 11

Territorial validity of visas

States and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, insofar as
the provisions of the latter agreements or arrangements cover
issues dealt with by the present Agreement.

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 former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia shall be entitled to travel within the terri-
tory of the Member States on an equal basis with European Union
citizens.

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 former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia. The Community shall be represented by
the Commission 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,
(regular exchange of information, including data on number
of issued visas, submitted and rejected visa applications);

(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.

5.
The Committee shall inform the relevant bodies established
under the Stabilization and Association Agreement providing
periodically data on the implementation of
the present
Agreement.

Article 13

Relation of this Agreement with bilateral Agreements
between Member States and the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia

2.
The provisions of bilateral Agreements or arrangements
between individual Member States and the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia 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 Member States concerned or the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia to denounce or suspend these bilateral
agreements during this period of five years.

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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on read-
mission of persons 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.

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.

Each Party may suspend in whole or in part this Agreement
5.
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.

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

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.

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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 ON THE PERSPECTIVE ON MUTUAL VISA FREE TRAVEL REGIME

In accordance with the conclusions of the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Thessaloniki on 21 June 2003
the visa facilitations provided under this Agreement shall represent a transitional phase towards visa free travel
regime for the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The visa free travel regime will be introduced for the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
on the basis of positive assessment of the country’s achievements in implementing relevant reforms and in
accordance with the procedures and criteria provided for in the Council Regulation 539/2001 of 15 March
2001.

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 former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia 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 former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia.

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 former Yugo-
slav Republic of Macedonia, 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 former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia 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 former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia.

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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 former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have concluded, a similar declaration will also be made in respect of Swit-
zerland and Liechtenstein.

JOINT DECLARATION ON FEES FOR PROCESSING VISA APPLICATIONS

The European Community takes note of the concerns raised by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
on the fact that the citizens of the latter are issued Schengen visas with territorial validity limited to one or
several Member States. The European Community also takes note of the request put forward by the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that its citizens that are holders of Schengen visas with territorial validity lim-
ited to one or several Member States and who need to travel, within the period of validity of that visa, to a
Member State not included in the territorial validity of that visa, should not be charged for the processing fees
for the second visa application.

The Parties consider that this issue should be assessed again, as a matter of priority, by the Committee referred
to in Article 12, once the European Parliament and the Council will have adopted the Community Code on
Visa, the draft of which deals with this issue.

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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
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 former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 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 two
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).

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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 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 applicants
from former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 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.).

Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member States shall organise themselves in such a way that an
appointment for submitting the visa application and the relevant supporting documents can be ensured within
a reasonable period of time.

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-term visas including on the simpli-
fication of document requirements on a case-by-case basis, and in particular for bona fide applicants.

POLITICAL DECLARATION FROM BULGARIA ON LOCAL BORDER TRAFFIC

The Republic of Bulgaria declares its willingness to enter into negotiations of bilateral agreement with the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for the purpose of implementing the local border traffic regime estab-
lished 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.

19.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 334/135

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DECLARATION ON FACILITATIONS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

The European Community takes note of the suggestion of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 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 particular, the simplification of documentary evidence requested for the appli-
cants, exemptions from handling fees and where appropriate the issuing of multiple entry visas.