eu-com-schengen-coop

Due to the continental size of Brazil and the very limited resources of the EU DEL, it is impossible
to coordinate the LSC in the whole of the country and in all the cities where MSs have their
consular representations (Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Recife, Curitiba, Salvador,
Belem, Fortaleza and Belo Horizonte). Therefore, the EU DEL focuses on the two most numerous
and active groups in Sao Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro. In the reporting period the EU DEL
participated five times in Consuls' meetings in Rio de Janeiro and in Sao Paulo.
2. LSC meetings held in 2013-2014
During May 2013 and May 2014) five meetings were held in the capital Brasilia on:
30 July 2013
24 October 2013
10 February 2014
10 April 2014
29 May 2014
(+ another five meetings held outside the capital)
The LSC meetings normally take place at the EU Delegation in Brasilia and depending on the
meeting they are well (some 50% of MSs) or very well (80% of MSs) attended. LSC meetings are
chaired by the EU Delegation. Minutes are drafted by the chair, also for the meetings held outside
the capital. Some MSs draft their own minutes for their capitals.
3. State of play
3.1 Application of the Visa Code
Due to the EU-Brazil Schengen visa waiver agreement, Schengen visa-related problems do not
constitute a major issue in local consular work. VIS was implemented in Brazil and the requirement
for collecting biometric details complicated things for some visa applicants, as they now have to
travel to (more distant/ fewer) Embassies/Consulates to deal with this.
MSs apply different exchange rates and also update them with different regularity, mostly according
to instructions from their capitals, which makes it impossible to have one uniform visa fee in the
local currency. The differences in fees are not significant and they don't lead to visa shopping.
The issue of treatment of EU nationals entering Brazil is regularly the object of criticisms towards
BR authorities. Specific cases of questionable refusals upon arrival in Brazil and a lack of
familiarity with diplomatic, service passports and the EU laissez-passer were raised. Often these
would occur due to a clear lack of training of immigration officers, however in general it can be
stated that BR authorities comply with the VWA.
3.2 Assessment of the need to harmonise the lists of supporting documents
A disparity of requirements needed to justify the purpose of the trip, duration, means of subsistence
and accommodation still exists in various Member States. Another attempt to advance with the
harmonisation of documents is taking place and EU DEL will suggest a harmonised list of
supporting documents in the coming days. Our goal is to reach an agreement still in 2014.
3.3 Exchange of information
12893/14 PR/lm 40
DG D 1 A
EN