eu-com-schengen-coop

identifiers (roll-out and full deployment of VIS), which already raises technical and political
concerns, are likely to entail a further increase of MS outsourcing.
Besides proximity to applicants, ESPs offered applicant-friendly and differentiated services as well
as fast procedures. Several "national" dedicated visa application centres (VACs) were operational,
offering information services (through call centres), web-based modules (for appointment
scheduling, online payment collection; visa application status check), as well as, in one case,
biometrics data capture/transfer, though related to long-stay visas. Most VACs belonging to the
same ESP were co-located in the reporting period in "Joint VACs", i.e. the same building in each
location, creating, de facto, ante litteram Schengen "Common Application Centres". At the end of
the reporting period, however, there was still homogeneity in MS's ESP network coverage neither
on ESP selection procedure nor on the legal instrument used and its terms and conditions 47 .
In 2013 48 India presented the second highest visa flow, after the Chinese one, if neighbouring
countries (Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Belarus), given their proximity to Europe, are not taken into
account. In general terms, it continued to be the six biggest Schengen visa operation in the world,
registering a 15% increase in visa applications if compared to 2012. Four MS 49 handled over 60%
of Schengen visa applications processed in the sub-continent. The biggest Schengen hub continued
to be Mumbai (where 6 MS Consular missions processed over 40% of all short-stay visas),
followed by New Delhi (where 24 MS Diplomatic missions processed an equivalent amount) and
the other five "peripheral" locations (where 13 Consular missions, from 5 MS, processed less than
15%).
For all the above, India remained a particularly challenging LSC operation, in absolute and relative
terms, as external and internal (organisational) pressures, complex local circumstances 50 , the
variable geography of the MS and their visas offices prompt reactions to substantial workload
increase, were to be constantly factored in.
2. LSC meetings held in 2013-2014
LSC meetings, took place in "Plenary" 51 as well as in sub-group (SG) 52 formation, in New Delhi.
Invitations were systematically extended to the two Schengen Associated States present as well as
the four Schengen prospective members 53 . In the reporting period, 9 Plenary meetings 54 took place,
in parallel with several ad hoc meetings in SG formation, according to a roadmap for progressive
implementation, drawn by its Chair, the European Union Delegation (henceforth EUD). Each
Plenary and SG meeting coagulated shared standpoints on common concerns and reached
implementable agreements locally. One of the Plenaries hosted a well-received interaction with a
DGHOME representative, who updated MS on global LSC and Visa Committee priorities. This
47 ESP networks varied from one location (capital city only) to several ones. In terms of selection and legal instruments,
some MS launched a world-wide tender, others an India-wide or a "local" one. Some MS signed specific country-wise
contracts, others location-wide ones. Some MS also concluded specific arrangements with ESP(s) in neighbouring
countries to collect visa applications in loco to be processed in India, withdrawing their pre-existing representation
agreements.
48 Schengen visas statistics are available per solar year.
49
Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France were the largest Schengen visa operations (as the volume each of them they
processed ranged between over 103,000 to over 66, 000).
50 India is a significant source of bona fide visa applicants for whom MS facilitative procedures are in place. However,
high levels of fraudulent visa applications and illegal migration attempts are also registered, especially in some specific
regions of the sub-continent.
51
Open to all MS representatives.
52 Only some MS participates. For further details, see infra part 3.4.
53
Bulgaria, Croatia (invited as observer until it became an EU MS on 1 st July 2013), Cyprus and Romania.
54
25 April; 5 and 26 June; 3 July; 12 September; 6 November 2013. 29 January, 5 February and 5 March 2014.
12893/14 PR/lm 91
DG D 1 A
EN