eu-com-schengen-coop

Other SGs focused on the assessment of a harmonised approach on other priority areas, which
would require further efforts in the future, and which constitute -per se- the priority areas for the
LSC-India in the next reporting period. Such "ongoing" initiatives encompass (in brackets the state
of the SG proceedings at the end of the reporting period): (i) "best practices" sharing on facilitations
practices related to first track/VIP/bona fide applicants, especially for business and tourism
purposes (first synoptic assessment drafted); (ii) cahier de doléances, i.e. a collection of MS
economic operators but also tourists, students, professors, journalists about the most common
hindrances encountered while applying for visas at the relevant Indian missions (first draft
submitted. Contacts with European operators started); (iii) Tibetans visa applications (preliminary
assessment made and ad hoc study mission in the pipeline); (iv) commercial intermediaries,
including travel agencies and travel facilitators 60 (first assessment completed. Way ahead to be
agreed upon by the Plenary).
4. Challenges in 2014-15
1. All challenges listed in the 2012-13 report were addressed in 2013-2014 and showed sensible
developments, which led to concrete harmonisation, as detailed above.
2. The main 2014-2015 systemic challenges for the LSC-India are likely to be a) biometric data
collection, both in terms of technical implementation as well as communication. Before the new
VIS system is rolled out, its stringent requirements shall be explained locally (with outreach
activities, in particular to the press) in order to avoid potential misperceptions and reactions; b) a
predictable further increase in the number of visa applications per MS.
Besides the subjects to be addressed upon specific instructions / decisions by the Visa Committee,
the main priorities on which the LSC-India interactions shall focus in the upcoming period are:
(1) first and foremost the finalisation of the harmonisation exercise on ongoing activities
currently examined by the various SGs as listed in section 3.4.
(2) specific action will aim to achieve the following concrete deliverables: (a) adoption the LSC
2012-2014 decisions "compendium"; (b) effective exchange of monthly visa statistics (Schengen
and national) detailed by purpose, as well as a synoptic table of annual statistics (2011-2013) MSwise
and consular location-wise; (c) further promotion, on a reciprocal basis, of legitimate shortstay
travellers (in particular for business and tourism purposes. For the latter, it would be explored
whether appropriate conditions are met, locally, to engage in exchange of reciprocal information
and engage in discussion, in the framework of the High Level Dialogue on Migration and Mobility,
drawing inspiration, from the EU side on the EU-China arrangement on Approved Destination
Status); (d) re-assess the need to agree on harmonised criteria for examining applications in relation
to visa fee exemptions.
(3) On a more structural level, several other initiatives shall be carried out or pro-actively
encouraged (or simply explored), including: 1. actual coordination by the EUD in locations outside
the capital, similarly to what happens in comparable Schengen operations (Russia and China, in
particular); 2. series of ad hoc outreach activities to representatives of the consulates of EU MS not
applying the Community acquis and like-minded third countries as well as local authorities, taking
into account that the LSC-India has become, by now, a point of reference locally and globally; 3.
exchange of visa officers among MS on a bilateral basis, to enhance cooperation/best practices
sharing; 4. specific local hands-on trainings; 5. discussion on common challenges with LSCs of
similar magnitude or those in the region. For the latter, the idea of organising a regional seminar
shall be explored. 6. As for information exchange, further attention shall be devoted to a) external
60 Currently "travel (and "students placing") agents" activities are largely unregulated in practice and are reported to be
involved in the majority of migration abuse, fraud and smuggling cases.
12893/14 PR/lm 96
DG D 1 A
EN