eu-com-schengen-coop

EUROPEAN UNION
DELEGATION TO CHINA AND MONGOLIA
18/06/2014
1. Introduction
LOCAL SCHENGEN COOPERATION (LSC) China
2013-2014 REPORT 20
Local Schengen Cooperation (LSC) in China has a strong presence with representation of Schengen
members encompassing a total of 62 Embassies and Consulates throughout China. All 28 EU
Member States and 25 Schengen members are represented in Beijing 21 . 20 Schengen members have
Consulates in Shanghai, 12 have Consulates in Guangzhou, and several also have Consulates in
Chengdu, Wuhan, Shenyang and Chongqing.
Two external service providers (TLS Contact and VFS Global) are used by several Schengen states
for the collection of visa applications and other Schengen states are also considering outsourcing
their visa services. 12 Schengen states 22 have outsourced the collection of visa applications in
Beijing. 12 Schengen states are using outsourcing in Shanghai 23 , 11 in Guangzhou 24 , two in
Chengdu 25 , two in Shenyang 26 , one in Wuhan 27 and one in Chongqing 28 . Feedback from Schengen
states regarding outsourcing services is mostly positive, focusing on the increasing numbers of
applications that now can be dealt with by the outsourcing company, relieving Embassies and
Consulates. Schengen states generally feel that this also allows for a more customer friendly way of
dealing with visa applicants.
Once biometric identifiers are introduced in China, however, existing outsourcing systems will
probably need revising. Approved Destination Status (ADS) visas for group tourism will be affected
and the existing ADS MoU might have to be renegotiated. Many Schengen states are concerned
about VIS causing falling numbers of Chinese tourists to Europe because of difficulties for Chinese
travellers living far from Schengen Embassies or Consulates to appear in person to apply for their
visa. Solving this problem is perceived as acute, not least since many Schengen states predict a 20%
increase of Chinese travel to the Schengen area over the next few years.
Schengen states here are certain of a strong and steady increase in the demand for Schengen visas in
the future, not only from Chinese tourism but also from business and other forms of travel. This
trend is predicted to strengthen as the Chinese government is issuing more passports and Chinese
citizens' purchasing power is getting stronger. However, this does not correlate with EU Delegation
(EUD) available statistics of Schengen visas issued during the period April 2013 to March 2014.
20 April 2013 – March 2014
21 Liechtenstein is represented by Switzerland in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
22 Italy, France, Belgium, Malta, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Spain, Norway, Greece, the Netherlands and Sweden.
23 Italy, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Spain, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands and Germany
24 Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Austria, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands.
25 Germany, France.
26 France and Germany
27 France
28 Denmark
12893/14 PR/lm 58
DG D 1 A
EN