eu-com-schengen-coop

Due to difficulties in harmonising locally the visa fees charged in local currency, the Commission
has decided to raise the issue centrally.
Visa fee waiver Visa Code Art 16.5
No harmonisation has yet been achieved on visa fee waiver for the categories of applicants listed in
Visa Code Art 16.5 (children between 6 and 12 years of age; diplomatic and service passports etc).
Palestinian Passport/Travel Documents and Palestinian VIP Passport/Travel Document.
Following a comparative analysis regarding the classification of Palestinian Passports/Travel
Documents, it appeared that the MS local practice in classifying the Palestinian Passport/Travel
Document and the Palestinian VIP Passport/Travel Document is different and, in any case, not
harmonized.
EUDEL submitted for the signature of each MS a recommendation paper in order to confirm the
general preliminary agreement on harmonising this classification, treating the VIP passports as
Diplomatic ones if the applicant is a diplomat or a high ranking official and the application is
supported by a MFA Verbal Note.
The results have been transmitted to DG HOME for further analysis and consideration.
2. Describe subjects to be addressed within the next reporting period (2014-2015)
Following the roll-out of the new Visa Information System (VIS) in Jerusalem, Gaza and the West
Bank which took place last 14 November 2013, the main subject will be to continue ensuring full
compliance with the obligation imposed by the Visa Code related to collection of biometric data,
particularly in Gaza. In fact, MS continue to face a number of practical and technical challenges in
Gaza, such as:
a) the Israeli blockade of Gaza renders it de facto impossible for a resident of Gaza to travel to MS
office in Jerusalem, Ramallah or Tel Aviv for the collection of biometry as part of a visa application
process. Biometry must therefore be collected in Gaza, which poses a challenge to several MS,
b) MS have opted for different technical solutions/platforms to collect biometry. The result of this is
that MS cannot use each other’s biometric equipment to collect the necessary data,
c) no MS has so far installed a fixed biometry station in Gaza (except Spain via outsourcing),
d) the majority of MS offices' in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Tel Aviv covering Gaza lacks a portable
biometry kit,
e) the coordination and entry procedures with Israeli and de facto authorities in Gaza as well as
travel to and from Gaza is time consuming, creates a need for long-term planning and involves a
lack of flexibility. Sometimes, planned and approved missions have to be cancelled due to the
deteriorating security situation in Gaza. Also the low number of applications for some MS makes
traveling to Gaza to receive applications for them a time consuming and inefficient exercise.
Several MS lack the necessary resources (staff, armoured cars…) to be able to regularly travel to
Gaza to collect the biometrics.
There are four possible ways to deal with the issue:
-The MS becomes a partner in the CAC/Schengen office in Gaza,
12893/14 PR/lm 202
DG D 1 A
EN