PURPOSE: To exempt Romania from visa obligations as from 1 January 2002.
COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation 2414/2001/EC amending Regulation 539/2001/EC listing the third countries whose national must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.
CONTENT: Romania, although listed in an annex under Regulation 539/2001/EEC (which would ordinarily have entitled it to visa derogations), was nevertheless subject to restriction concerning entry visas for its citizens. An asterisk next to its entry in the annex effectively meant the usual visa requirements were suspended. In June 2001 the Commission presented a report to the Council in which it recommended that these restrictions be lifted. Justification to do so was based on Commission findings which noted a marked improvement in Romania's illegal immigration policy, its visa policy and the controls at its borders. The United Kingdom and Ireland have decided not to participate in the application of this Regulation. Hence the provisions of this Directive will not apply to Ireland or to the United Kingdom. In order to enact the Commission recommendations Directive 539/2001 has been amended including the deletion of the asterisk next to Romania's entry, which effectively frees it of any visa obligations.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 January 2002.�