EU/Antigua and Barbuda Agreement: short-stay visa waiver

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the European Union and Antigua and Barbuda amending the Agreement between the European Community and Antigua and Barbuda on the short-stay visa waiver.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: by its Decision 2009/896/EC, the Council concluded the Agreement between the European Community and Antigua and Barbuda on the short-stay visa waiver.

The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the Union and for the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of three months during a six months period.

Regulation (EU) No 610/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council introduced horizontal changes in the Union’s visa and border acquis and defined a short stay as a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.

It is necessary to incorporate this new definition into the Agreement in order to fully harmonise the Union’s short-stay regime.

The Commission negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an agreement with Antigua and Barbuda which amends the Agreement between the European Community and Antigua and Barbuda on the short-stay visa waiver (the ‘amending Agreement’).

In accordance with a Council Decision, the amending Agreement has been signed.

CONTENT: the draft Council Decision now seeks the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Antigua and Barbuda amending the Agreement between the European Community and Antigua and Barbuda on the short-stay visa waiver.

The provisions of the Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom or to Ireland.