The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN (S&D, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1683/1995 of 29 May 1995 laying down a uniform format for visas.
The committee recommended the European Parliament to adopt its position at first reading taking over the Commission proposal.
In the explanatory statement accompanying the legislative resolution, it is recalled that the current security concept for a uniform format for visas dates back to 1995, when it was initially developed under the intergovernmental Schengen cooperation. Regulation (EC) No 1683/1995 on a uniform format for visas took it over into EU law. Since then, it has been modified substantially twice.
Over the past few years forged visa stickers have arisen in several Member States. The present sticker is, as far as specialists are concerned, not secure any longer.
Therefore, the Commission presented a proposal amending Regulation (EC) No 1683/1995 calling for a new model with more security features in order to make the visa sticker more secure and prevent forgery.
There are no substantive changes to the enacting terms of this Regulation; the annex is merely replaced to show the image and the general description of the new visa sticker. The Commission has furthermore held out the prospect that the Regulation could face a codification after it has been adopted.
Members considered that the Commission proposal should be adopted without any amendments in order to complete swift legislation for unforgeable visa stickers.