eu-com-schengen-coop

The Member States do not, apparently, produce their own reports but, as provided for by the Visa
Code, share common reports produced by the LSC in Santiago with their respective central
authorities. (Sometimes, the reports are translated at the embassies.)
The visa powers of honorary consulates outside the capital were discussed at the meetings. Member
States apparently transfer relevant information from the LSC to their consulates.
3. Current situation
3.1. Application of the Visa Code
The Schengen meetings provide a forum for sharing experiences, customs, information and
problems. At each meeting, one or other provision of the Code is discussed, and there has been a
significant improvement in the responses from the various consulates.
The EU Delegation provided information to the Member States about the 'Visa Information System'
which was introduced in Latin America in September 2013.
Discussions were held on the following issues:
Consultation about the Visa Code: DG Home (European Commission) launched a public
consultation on 25 March 2014 on the Visa Code, which has been in force for three years.
The Commission wants to ascertain whether this legislation has met its objectives and to
modernise the procedures for issuing short-stay visas for travel within the Schengen area. In
addition to the public consultation, the matter is being discussed by Member State
representatives and the Commission in Visa Committee meetings. The Commission has
asked EU Delegations to produce a 'Top 10' list of suggested changes which could be made
by Member State consulates. The Schengen Advisers noted that there have been no
problems with implementing the Visa Code.
Introduction of VIS in Chile (September 2013). The Member States commented that they
have had good experiences with VIS. In March 2014, all Member States were using this
system apart from two (IT issues visas for PT and FR for GR).
It was agreed that the Chilean authorities would be informed about the introduction of VIS
on 5 September 2013 in a meeting with the Policy Adviser of the EU Delegation in which
she issued a note verbale with information on the new system. As most visas are issued to
Peruvian, Bolivian and Colombian citizens, the EU Delegation provided the Peruvian,
Bolivian and Colombian consulates in Chile with a copy of the note verbale for information.
3.2. Assessment of the need to harmonise the lists of supporting documents
The list of supporting documents was approved by the Commission on 6 August 2012, making it
binding. It must therefore be published on embassy and consulate websites.
3.3. Exchange of information
The European Union Delegation is collecting and analysing statistics concerning visas applied for
and issued under the auspices of the Member States. The Member States had no problems with
medical insurance for travellers.
3.4. Other initiatives taken under the LSC
12893/14 PR/lm 56
DG D 1 A
EN