The European Parliament adopted by 606 votes to 9, with 25 abstentions, a legislative resolution 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 European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure, amended the Commission proposal as follows:
Agreement with Ireland and the United Kingdom: upon request from Ireland or the United Kingdom, the Commission shall enter into appropriate arrangements with the requesting Member State to exchange technical information referred to in Article 2 for the purposes of issuing national visas by the requesting Member State. Costs to which Ireland and the United Kingdom do not contribute in accordance with Article 5 of Protocol No 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, shall be borne by Ireland or the United Kingdom respectively if they make such request.
Territorial provisions: the future Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom and Ireland do not take part. These States shall not participate in the adoption of this Regulation and shall not be bound by it or subject to its application.
Annex: technical amendments have also been made to the Annex of the future Regulation.