PURPOSE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.
PROPOSED ACT: Regulation 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: Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders (the so-called negative list (Annex I) and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (the so-called positive list (Annex II)). As the criteria set out in Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 can evolve over time in relation to third countries, the composition of the negative and positive lists should be reviewed and amended when appropriate. Third countries for which the situation has changed as regards these criteria, should be transferred from one Annex to the other.
CONTENT: following successful negotiations between the EU and Moldova and taking into consideration the progress made by Moldova in its visa liberalisation dialogue during the last three years, the Commission proposes to transfer Moldova from the negative to the positive list, however with a limitation of this visa waiver to the holders of biometric passports issued by Moldova in line with standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: this proposal has no implication on the European Union budget.