eu-com-schengen-coop

UNION EUROPÉENNE
Délégation en République du Sénégal
Dakar, 11 April 2014
LOCAL SCHENGEN COOPERATION (LSC) in DAKAR, SENEGAL
2013-2014 REPORT 85
1. Introduction
- In Dakar, 10 EU Member States are present at Ambassadors' level: Austria, Belgium, France,
Germany, Great-Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Spain, and Portugal. Luxemburg and
(since 2013) the Czech Republic are represented at Chargé d'Affaires-level. Switzerland is
present at Ambassadors' level. Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia have
(honorary) consulates.
- In 2013, Totals of A, C and LTV visas issued: Austria 468; Belgium 1.241; France 17.371;
Germany 1.866; Italy 2.998; The Netherlands 620; Portugal 2.102; Spain 4.223; Switzerland
1.661.
- Spain, Italy and Portugal use external providers ("front office") for visa applications. In March
2014, France outsourced their front office to VFS Global. As Spain uses the same provider
already, Spain will join France at the 'Centre Commun de demande de Visa Schengen' in June
2014. The Netherlands is looking into possibilities of joining too.
- Many embassies fulfil a regional role and also represent their country in neighbouring countries,
based from Dakar (eg. The Gambia, Cape Verde, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Mali).
- This reporting year is the first year in which Schengen visa are no longer issued in The Gambia,
as Member States haven't got consular offices with biometric equipment in The Gambia (14
March 2013). Gambians have to travel to Dakar to apply for visa.
2. LSC meetings held in 2013-2014
- 7 meetings were held (16/4/13, 21/5/13, 18/6/13, 30/9/13, 24/1/14, 20/3/14 and 10/4/14); these
were well attended with each Schengen Member state present. For a part of the meeting on
24/1/14, the USA, Canada and Turkey were also invited. As most meetings also address other
consular issues, Great-Britain is always informed and invited for those common sessions.
- Meetings were chaired by the EU Delegation.
3. State of play
3.1 Application of the Visa Code
- No specific issues/ problems reported (yet).
- MS request to improve NVIS to include motivation for refusal.
85 April 2013 – March 2014
12893/14 PR/lm 150
DG D 1 A
EN