PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Agreement between the European Union and Solomon Islands 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 negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an agreement with Solomon Islands on the short-stay visa waiver.
In accordance with a Council Decision, the Agreement has been signed and is applied on a provisional basis. The Agreement should now be approved on behalf of the EU.
CONTENT: the draft Council Decision seeks the approval of the Agreement between the European Union and Solomon Islands on the short-stay visa waiver is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.
The agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the European Union and for the citizens of Solomon Islands when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visa waiver covers all categories of persons (holders of ordinary, diplomatic, service/official and special passports) travelling for all kinds of purposes, except for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.
The future provisions of the Agreement shall not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland.
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.