Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 of 29 May 1995 laying down a uniform format for visas

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1683/95
of 29 May 1995
laying down a uniform  format for visas
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, in particular Article 100c (3)  thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
Whereas Article 100c (3) of the Treaty requires the Council to adopt measures relating to a uniform  format for visas before 1 January 1996;
Whereas the introduction of a uniform format for visas is an important step towards the  harmonization of visa policy; whereas Article 7a of the Treaty stipulates that the internal market  shall comprise an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of persons is ensured  in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty; whereas this step is also to be regarded as  forming a coherent whole with measures falling within Title VI of the Treaty on European Union;
Whereas it is essential that the uniform format for visas should contain all the necessary  information and meet very high technical standards, notably as regards safeguards against  counterfeiting and falsification; whereas it must also be suited to use by all the Member States  and bear universally recognizable security features which are clearly visible to the naked eye;
Whereas this Regulation only lays down such specifications as are not secret; whereas these  specifications need to be supplemented by further specifications which must remain secret in order  to prevent counterfeiting and falsification and which may not include personal data or references  to such data; whereas powers to adopt further specifications should be conferred on the  Commission;
Whereas, to ensure that the information referred to is not made available to more persons than  necessary, it is also essential that each Member State should designate not more than one body  having responsibility for printing the uniform format for visas, with Member States remaining free  to change the body, if need be; whereas, for security reasons, each Member State must communicate  the name of the competent body to the Commission and the other Member States;
Whereas, to be effective, this Regulation should apply to all visas covered by Article 5; whereas  Member States should be free also to use the uniform visa format for visas which can be used for  purposes other than those covered by Article 5 provided differences visible to the naked eye are  incorporated to make confusion with the uniform visa impossible;
Whereas, with regard to the personal data to be entered on the uniform format for visas in  accordance with the Annex hereto, compliance should be ensured with Member States' data-protection  provisions as well as with the relevant Community legislation,