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

19.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 334/85

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

AGREEMENT

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY,

hereinafter referred to as ‘the Community’,

and

THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA,

hereinafter referred to as ‘the Parties’,

HAVING REGARD to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Community and the Repub-
lic of Albania, which was signed on 12 June 2006 and which currently governs the relations with the Republic of Albania,

REAFFIRMING the intention to cooperate closely within the framework of the existing SAA structures for the liberalisation
of the visa regime between the Republic of Albania 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 the steady development of economic, humanitarian, cultural, scientific and other ties, by facilitating the issu-
ing of visas to citizens of the Republic of Albania,

BEARING IN MIND that, as from 4 August 2000, EU citizens are exempted from the visa requirement when travelling to
the Republic of Albania for a period of time not exceeding 90 days per period of 180 days or transiting through the terri-
tory of the Republic of Albania,

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

HAVING REGARD to the entry into force of the agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Albania
on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation,

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

the same facilitations granted under this agreement to the citizens
of the Republic of Albania would automatically, on the basis of
reciprocity, apply to EU citizens concerned.

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 Albania.

Article 2

General clause

If the Republic of Albania was to reintroduce the visa
2.
requirement for EU citizens or certain categories of EU citizens,

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

L 334/86

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2007

The national law of the Republic of Albania, or of the Mem-
2.
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.

Article 3

Definitions

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

For the purpose of this Agreement:

(c)

for journalists:

(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);

(d)

(c)

‘citizen of the Republic of Albania’ shall mean a person who
possesses Albanian citizenship;

— 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;

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

and other

including

(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:

— 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 Albania authorised or entitled to stay for more than 90
days in the territory of a Member State, on the basis of Com-
munity or national legislation.

Article 4

Documentary evidence regarding the purpose of the
journey

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

(a)

for members of official delegations who, following an offi-
cial invitation addressed to the Republic of Albania, 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 written request from the host organisation to partici-

pate in those activities;

(e)

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;

(f)

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

(g)

for participants in international sports 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;

— a letter issued by an Albanian authority confirming that
the applicant is a member of the Albanian delegation
travelling to the territory of the Member States to par-
ticipate in the aforementioned events, accompanied by a
copy of the official invitation;

(h)

for participants in official exchange programmes organised
by twin cities:

— a written request of the Head of Administration/Mayor

of these cities;

19.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 334/87

(i)

for close relatives — spouse, children (including adopted),
parents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchil-
dren — visiting Albanian citizens legally residing in the ter-
ritory of the Member States:

(p)

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

— a written request from the host person;

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

(j)

for visiting military and civil burial grounds:

(q)

for persons visiting for burial ceremonies:

— 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;

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

(k)

for persons politically persecuted during the communist
regime in the Republic of Albania:

— the certificate issued by the Institute for the Integration
of the Persecuted Persons in accordance with Article 3 of
Law no 7748 of 29.07.1993, indicating the status of
being a person politically persecuted during the commu-
nist regime in the Republic of Albania and a letter of
invitation from a competent authority, national or inter-
national organisation including NGO of a Member State
or by a European institution for participating in activi-
ties as appropriate including activities related to their
status;

(l)

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

— a written request from the national association (union)
of carriers of the Republic of Albania providing for inter-
national road transportation, stating the purpose, dura-
tion and frequency of the trips;

(m) 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;

(n)

for persons visiting for medical reasons and necessary accom-
panying persons:

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

(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:

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

(r)

for representatives of the religious communities:

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

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 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.

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) members of the Council of Ministers, Parliament, Constitu-
tional Court and Supreme Court, if they are not exempted
from the visa requirement 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;

L 334/88

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2007

(b) permanent members of official delegations who, following
an official invitation addressed to the Republic of Albania,
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;

(c)

spouses and children (including adopted), who are under the
age of 21 or are dependent, visiting Albanian citizens 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.

Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
2.
States shall issue multiple-entry visas with the 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 Albania, 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

(l)

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;

(m) members of the professions participating in international
exhibitions, conferences, symposia, seminars or other simi-
lar 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.

The total period of stay of persons referred to in para-
4.
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 Albania shall amount to EUR 35.

(b) business people and representatives of business organisations

who regularly travel to the Member States;

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

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

(d) participants in international sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity;

(e)

journalists;

(f) participants in official exchange programmes organised by

twin cities;

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

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

necessary accompanying persons;

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

(j)

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

If the Republic of Albania was to reintroduce the visa requirement
for EU citizens, the visa fee to be charged by the Republic of Alba-
nia 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)

close relatives — spouses, children (including adopted), par-
ents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchildren
of Albanian citizens legally residing in the territory of the
Member States;

(b) members of official delegations who, following an official
invitation addressed to the Republic of Albania, shall partici-
pate in meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange
programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of the
Member States by intergovernmental organisations;

(c) members of the Council of Ministers, Parliament, Constitu-
tional Court and Supreme Court, if they are not exempted
from the visa requirement by the present Agreement;

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

(e)

children under six years of age;

(k)

representatives of the religious communities in the Republic
of Albania, who regularly travel to the Member States;

(f) disabled persons and the person accompanying them,

if

necessary;

19.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 334/89

(g) 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;

(h) participants in international sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity;

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

ties including university and other exchange programmes;

Article 8

Departure in case of lost or stolen documents

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

(j) participants in official exchange programmes organised by

Article 9

twin cities;

(k) politically persecuted persons during the communist regime;

(l) pensioners;

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

(n)

journalists;

Extension of visa in exceptional circumstances

The citizens of the Republic of Albania 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

(o)

representatives of religious communities registered in the
Republic of Albania;

1.
Citizens of the Republic of Albania, holders of valid diplo-
matic passports can enter, leave and transit through the territo-
ries of the Member States without visas.

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

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.

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

Article 11

Territorial validity of visas

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

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 Alba-
nia shall be entitled to travel within the territory of the Member
States on an equal basis with European Union citizens.

Article 7

Length of procedures for processing visa applications

Article 12

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.

Joint Committee for management of the Agreement

The Parties shall set up a Joint Committee of experts (here-
1.
inafter referred to as ‘the Committee’), composed of representa-
tives of the European Community and of the Republic of Albania.
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:

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.

(a) monitoring the implementation of the present Agreement;

L 334/90

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2007

(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 Albania

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 Albania, insofar as the provisions of the
latter agreements or arrangements cover issues dealt with by the
present Agreement.

The provisions of bilateral Agreements or arrangements
2.
between individual Member States and the Republic of Albania
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 Albania 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.

2.
This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of
time, unless terminated in accordance with paragraph 5 of this
Article.

3.
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.

4.
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.

5.
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.

19.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 334/91

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 Европску заједнитгу
Për Kommunitetin Europian

За Република Албания
Por la República de Albania
Za Albánskou republiku
For Republikken Albanien
Für die Republik Albanien
Albaania Vabariigi nimel
Για τη Δημοκρατία της Αλβανίας
For the Republic of Albania
Pour la République d’Albanie
Per la Repubblica d’Albania
Albānijas Republikas vārdā
Albanijos Respublikos vardu
az Albán Köztársaság részéről
Għar-Repubblika ta’ l-Albanija
Voor de Republiek Albanië
W imieniu Republiki Albanii
Pela República da Albânia
Pentru Republica Albania
Za Albánsku republiku
Za Republiko Albanijo
Albanian tasavallan puolesta
För Republiken Albanien
Për Republikën e Shqipërisë

L 334/92

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2007

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.

19.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 334/93

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 Albania 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 Albania.

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
Albania, 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 Albania 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 Albania.

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 Albania have concluded, a similar declaration will also be made in respect of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

L 334/94

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2007

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 Albanian
applicants 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, and
in particular for bona fide applicants.

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 Albania 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 Albania 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(3).

19.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 334/95

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

The European Community takes note of the suggestion of the Republic of Albania 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 Albania 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 Albania legally residing in the territories of Member States,
the European Community invites the Member States’ consular offices to make full use of the existing possi-
bilities 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 applicants, exemptions from han-
dling 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.