20071108

Council Decision

of 8 November 2007

on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the facilitation of the issuance of visas

(2007/822/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 62(2)(b)(i) and (ii), in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament [1],

Whereas:

(1) The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the European Community an Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina on the facilitation of the issuance of visas.

(2) The Agreement was signed, on behalf of the European Community, on 18 September 2007 subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, in accordance with a Council Decision adopted on 18 September 2007.

(3) The Agreement should be approved.

(4) The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement, which may adopt its rules of procedure. It is appropriate to provide for a simplified procedure for the establishment of the Community position in this case.

(5) In accordance with the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, the United Kingdom and Ireland are not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and are not bound by it or subject to its application.

(6) In accordance with the Protocol on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark does not take part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement between the European Community and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the facilitation of the issuance of visas is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall give the notification provided for in Article 14(1) of the Agreement [2].

Article 3

The Commission, assisted by experts from Member States, shall represent the Community in the Joint Committee of experts established by Article 12 of the Agreement.

Article 4

The position of the Community within the Joint Committee of experts with regard to the adoption of its rules of procedure as required under Article 12(4) of the Agreement shall be taken by the Commission after consultation with a special committee designated by the Council.

Article 5

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 8 November 2007.

For the Council

The President

R. Pereira

[1] Opinion delivered on 24 October 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

[2] The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.

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