Council Decision

of 27 November 2008

amending Annex 13 to the Common Consular Instructions on filling in visa stickers

(2008/905/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 789/2001 of 24 April 2001 reserving to the Council implementing powers with regard to certain detailed provisions and practical procedures for examining visa applications [1], and in particular Article 1(1) thereof,

Having regard to the initiative of France,

Whereas:

(1) It is necessary to update the Common Consular Instructions in order to reflect the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Swiss Confederation by virtue of Decision 2008/903/EC [2].

(2) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision, and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Given that this Decision builds upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of Title IV of Part Three of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark shall, in accordance with Article 5 of the said Protocol, decide within a period of six months after the Council has adopted this Decision, whether it will implement it in its national law.

(3) As regards Iceland and Norway, this Decision constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B of Council Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of that Agreement [3].

(4) This Decision constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis [4]. The United Kingdom is therefore not taking part in its adoption and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

(5) This Decision constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland’s request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis [5]. Ireland is therefore not taking part in its adoption and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

(6) As regards Switzerland, this Decision constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the association of the Swiss Confederation with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis [6], which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2008/146/EC [7].

(7) As regards Liechtenstein, this Decision constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Protocol signed between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis [8], which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2008/261/EC [9].

(8) As regards Cyprus, this Decision constitutes an act building on the Schengen acquis or otherwise related to it within the meaning of Article 3(2) of the 2003 Act of Accession.

(9) This Decision constitutes an act building on the Schengen acquis or otherwise related to it within the meaning of Article 4(2) of the 2005 Act of Accession,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following code shall be added to the list of country codes set out in Annex 13, examples 11 and 14, to the Common Consular Instructions:

"Swiss Confederation: CH"

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from the date set out in the first subparagraph of Article 1(1) of Decision 2008/903/EC on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Swiss Confederation [10].

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Done at Brussels, 27 November 2008.

For the Council

The President

M. Alliot-Marie

[1] OJ L 116, 26.4.2001, p. 2.

[2] See page 15 of this Official Journal.

[3] OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.

[4] OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43.

[5] OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20.

[6] OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 52.

[7] OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 1.

[8] Council document 16462/06; accessible on http://register.consilium.europa.eu

[9] OJ L 83, 26.3.2008, p. 3.

[10] See page 15 of this Official Journal.

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