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European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals

2015/0306(COD)

PURPOSE: to establish the format and the technical specifications of a European travel document for the return of third-country nationals subject to a return decision.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2016/1953 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals, and repealing the Council Recommendation of 30 November 1994.

CONTENT: this Regulation establishes a uniform European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals. It sets out in particular its format, security features and technical specifications. These may be found in the annex to the Regulation.

The European travel document for return shall contain the following information:

  • the name, surname, date of birth, sex, nationality, distinguishing marks and, if known, the address in the third country of return of the third-country national;
  • a photograph of the third-country national;
  • the issuing authority, date and place of issue and period of validity;
  • information about the departure and arrival of the third-country national.

It shall be valid for a single journey up until the time of arrival in the third country of return of the third-country national subject to a return decision issued by a Member State.

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in order to amend the format of the European travel document for return.

Technical specifications: the security features and technical specifications of the European travel document for return shall be those set out in Regulation (EC) No 333/2002.

Review and reporting: by 8 December 2018, the Commission shall review and report on the effective implementation of this Regulation.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 7.12.2016.

APPLICATION: 8.4.2017.

DELEGATED ACTS: the power to adopt acts intended to amend certain non-essential elements of the format of the travel document for return shall be conferred on the Commission for an indefinite period from 7.12.2016. A delegated act shall enter into force only if the European Parliament or the Council has not raised objections.