PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga 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: the Commission has negotiated on behalf of the European Union an agreement with Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver.
In accordance with a Council Decision, the Agreement has been signed and is applied on a provisional basis.
It is now necessary to conclude the Agreement on behalf of the European Union.
CONTENT: under this proposed Decision, the Council is called upon to approve the Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.
Scope: the visa waiver covers all categories of persons (ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passport holders) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity (for further information concerning this Agreement, please refer to the summary of the initial legislative procedure dated 14.09.2015).
Territorial application: the provisions of the Agreement shall not apply to the United Kingdom nor to Ireland.
Joint Committee: the Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement. The Union is to be represented within that Joint Committee by the Commission, which should be assisted by the representatives of the Member States.