eu-com-schengen-coop

The EUDEL held an extraordinary meeting with the LSC group in On 28 th April 2014 to present the
new VIS documents enabling the group discuss the roll-out and bring up any concern (reported to
HQ). All countries advised that they were aware of the roll-out and would be ready by the 15 th May
deadline (with the possible exception of Portugal). A general discussion ensued with those
countries already using the system giving a brief overview of their experiences. Representatives did
not express any particular concerns.
3.2 Assessment of the need to harmonise the lists of supporting documents
The EUDEL has recently launched a new call to establish a list of supporting documents requested
by MS for visa applications. We sent the MS a table containing a non-exhaustive list of possible
supporting documents drawn from Section 6.2 of Commission Decision C (2010) 1620 establishing
the Handbook for the processing of visa applications and the modification of issued visas. We are
currently collating the responses which will enable us to take a decision as to whether or not we
should work towards a harmonised list of supporting documents for Schengen visa issued in
Australia. Once this decision has been made, we will also address the issue of the exemptions from
visa fees.
3.3 Exchange of information
The EUDEL created an extensive spread sheet enabling us to accurately collect and record visa
statistics on a quarterly basis from each of the LSC MS. This data is sent to HQ each quarter and
shared with MS. It is also uploaded onto the password protected AGORA Intranet to which member
states have access, together with all other information shared.
3.4 Any other initiative taken in LSC
In the past, the LSC Group has worked towards harmonisation of the Visa Information Sheet.
However, as HQ are currently working to produce a new template, this issue has been put on hold
and will be revisited in due course once a new template has been made available.
MS have repeatedly raised the issue of bi-lateral agreements co-existing with EU rules. We are
confident that this issue will be resolved with the passing of the new package of proposed
legislation.
4. Challenges
The EUDEL would like to ensure the harmonisation of the Visa Information Sheet is agreed upon
and introduced during the next reporting period. As well, MS finally agreed to the harmonisation of
supporting documents. The EUDEL will now work towards an agreed list and will then look
towards the possible harmonisation of visa fees.
A majority of the MS represented in Canberra are also accredited to many of the countries in the
Pacific. The introduction of biometrics for the Schengen visa will mean that people from the Pacific
will have to travel to Australia (for which they will also need a visa), to apply for a Schengen Visa.
With the visa free regulation coming up soon with most of the Pacific countries, this temporary
situation will be hard to explain to Pacific Islanders and will most likely result in fewer visas
granted.
12893/14 PR/lm 16
DG D 1 A
EN