PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and China on the short-stay visa waiver for holders of diplomatic passports.
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 China on the short-stay visa waiver for holders of diplomatic passports. The Agreement should now be approved.
CONTENT: the draft Decision seeks approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and China on the short-stay visa waiver for holders of diplomatic passports.
The agreement provides for visa-free travel of a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period for citizens of the European Union holding a valid diplomatic passport or an EU laissez-passer and for citizens of China holding a valid diplomatic passport when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party.
This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom and Ireland shall not take part and shall not be bound by it or subject to its application.
For details about the content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the Commissions initial legislative proposal of 15.12.2015.