eu-com-schengen-coop

2. LSC meetings in 2013-2014
Three LSC coordination meetings were held from April 2013 to March 2014 with an average
participation rate of 50% of the Member States represented. Some smaller Member States did not
attend the meetings for want of sufficient staff.
Two LSC meetings are held every six months and are chaired by the Delegation of the European
Union, which also draws up the minutes and distributes them with the agreement of the Member
States present. The majority of the Member States attach these minutes to the reports they send to
their capitals.
The Delegation has invited the Member States' consuls-general from outside the capital to attend
the LSC meetings, but they have not yet been able to attend. They are also sent the minutes of the
meetings.
3. Current situation
3.1. Application of the Visa Code
At the coordination meetings, information is exchanged on specific problems encountered by some
Member States when issuing visas.
As regards implementing the Visa Information System (VIS), the Member States take the view that
the VIS will complicate the management of passport and visa applications in countries under their
jurisdiction outside of Venezuela and consider it necessary to speed up international representation
agreements for consular affairs in those countries.
3.2. Assessment of the need to harmonise the lists of supporting documents
The Member States present are examining different practices in relation to the list of supporting
documents. Most of the supporting documents requested are the same. However, some requirements
stem from the specific rules and regulations of each Member State, for example payment in local
currency or in foreign currency.
3.3. Exchange of information
The following information is regularly exchanged at LSC meetings:
- monthly statistics;
- cases of fraud;
- usual practices for applying for visas or specific cases that attract attention;
- other matters of common interest.
12893/14 PR/lm 196
DG D 1 A
EN