Communication defining the position of the Commission in the field of visa reciprocity and reporting on the progress achieved

On 12 April 2016, the Commission presented a Communication on the state of play and the possible ways forward as regards the situation of non-reciprocity with certain third countries in the area of visa policy. In that Communication it was noted that with the active support of the Commission, the vast majority of the non-reciprocity cases had been solved. However, if the third country concerned has not lifted the visa requirement by 12 April 2016, Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 obliges the Commission to adopt a delegated act suspending for 12 months the visa waiver for nationals of that third country.

The Regulation also requires that the Commission takes into account the consequences of the suspension of the visa waiver for the external relations of the EU and its Member States. The April 2016 Communication assessed the consequences and impacts of the suspension of the visa waiver for EU citizens and businesses as well as nationals of the third countries concerned. In that Communication the Commission also invited the European Parliament and the Council to discuss the most appropriate way forward.

The Commission then presented two follow-up Communications in July and December 2016. The December follow-up welcomed that Canada had provided a clear timeline for achieving full visa reciprocity for all EU citizens. As regards the United States, the Commission committed to re-launching without delay its efforts with the new Administration to push for full visa reciprocity in coordination with the five Member States concerned, with the aim to agree in the first half of 2017 on a way forward to achieve this objective.

In addition, the Commission committed to continuing to work closely with both the European Parliament and the Council to ensure that the European Union speaks with one voice on this important matter, and to report on further progress before the end of June 2017.

This Communication defines the position of the Commission following the European Parliament Resolution of 2 March 2017 on obligations of the Commission in the field of visa reciprocity under Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 and, as a follow-up to the earlier Communications, takes stock of the developments in this area since December 2016.

ESO Records

Commission responds to European Parliament's resolution on visa reciprocity http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-responds-to-european-parliaments-resolution-on-visa-reciprocity/

---