Third countries whose nationals are subject to or exempt from a visa requirement (Visa Regulation)

2000/0030(CNS)
The committee adopted the report by Klaus-Heiner LEHNE (EPP-ED, D) amending the proposal under the consultation procedure. In particular, it rejected the attempt to attach certain conditions to the exemption for Romania from visa requirements, arguing that there was no justification for treating Romania differently, especially as it was one of the applicant states. Another amendment stipulated that visa requirements for stateless persons should be the same as for nationals of the third country in which they reside. The committee also wanted Member States to be able to exempt from the visa requirement young people taking part in EU youth programmes, as it felt that the EU should do everything possible to enhance crossborder contacts. Other amendments were designed to secure coherence with the existing Schengen rules and to tidy up the Council's text.