Uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals

PURPOSE: to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: the current design of the residence permit was adopted in 1997. Back in 2009, Member States considered that more sophisticated forgeries meant it was necessary to work on a new design for residence permits and decided to introduce more modern security features to improve the security features of residence permits.

Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 380/2008, lays down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals.

During the discussions, it became clear that Member States were not in favour of a completely harmonised document. They insisted on maintaining the list of ‘updated’ additional security features, which could be added to a common ‘uniform’ format if desired. They did not wish to change their systems but preferred to continue with a common ‘uniform’ card with an improved level of security and an updated list of optional (national) security features.

‘Uniformity’ only meant having a uniform design and some standard security features, to which optional national security features could be added.

Therefore, it is necessary to establish a new common design for residence permits for third-country nationals with more modern security features in order to render the residence permits more secure and prevent forgery.

CONTENT: this proposal seeks to replace the Annex to Regulation (EC) 1030/2002 by a new technical Annex containing the image and the general description of the new residence permit.

Transitional period and implementation: to allow existing stocks to be used up, provision is made for a transitional period of six months during which Member States can still use the old residence permits.

It is also provided that Member States must introduce the new residence permits nine months after the Commission adopts an implementing decision on the supplementary technical specifications.