External borders: simplified regime for the control of persons based on the unilateral recognition by Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania of certain documents as equivalent to their national visas for transit through or intended stays on their territories

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs unanimously adopted the report by Tanja FAJON (S&D, SI) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council introducing a simplified regime for the control of persons at the external borders based on the unilateral recognition by Croatia and Cyprus of certain documents as equivalent to their national visas for transit through or intended stays on their territories not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period and repealing Decision No 895/2006/EC and Decision No 582/2008/EC of the European Parliament and the Council.

The parliamentary committee recommended that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should be to amend the Commission’s proposal as follows:

Cyprus and the non-application of the Schengen acquis: Members stressed in a recital that Cyprus is not yet fully implementing the Schengen acquis.

Recognition of certain travel documents: Members considered that Croatia and Cyprus may also consider as equivalent to their national visas, for transit through or intended stays on their territory not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period visas with limited territorial validity issued in accordance with Article 25(3) first sentence of the Visa Code, affixed to the travel documents that they recognise. This should include visas with limited territorial validity which are issued to the citizens of Kosovo and are valid in the Schengen area minus the countries that do not recognize Kosovo such as Cyprus.