EU/China Agreement: short-stay visa waiver for holders of diplomatic passports

2015/0293(NLE)

The European Parliament adopted by 611 votes to 51, with 28 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the People's Republic of China on the short-stay visa waiver for holders of diplomatic passports.

In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Parliament gave its consent to conclusion of the agreement.

The agreement provides for visa-free travel for citizens of the 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, for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period.

The agreement was initialled by the chief negotiators of the EU and China respectively on 3 and 4 November 2015.