Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2017)588 - EU position within the Joint Committee with Azerbaijan on the facilitation of the issuance of visas, with regard to the adoption of its rules of procedure

Please note

This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.



1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

The Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Azerbaijan to facilitate the issuing of short-stay visas to citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan and of the European Union entered into force on 1 September 2014 1 . The Agreement established, on the basis of reciprocity, legally binding rights and obligations applicable to both parties, to simplify procedures for issuing visas to both Azerbaijani and EU citizens. Article 12 of the Agreement sets up a Joint Committee whose tasks include monitoring the implementation of the Agreement. Article 12 i of the Agreement stipulates that the Joint Committee is to define its own rules of procedure.

The rules of procedure are to be adopted through a Decision of the Joint Committee and will not be part of the Agreement.

2. LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

Legal basis

The Council empowers the EU representative on the Joint Committee, i.e. the Commission, to adopt the rules of procedure on the basis of this proposal. The purpose of the rules is to organise the work of the Joint Committee and help prepare for and manage its meetings.

3. RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

The rules of procedure, as set out in the Annex to this proposal for a Council Decision, are the outcome of consultation with the competent authorities in Azerbaijan, at the first and second meeting of the Joint Committee, and through an exchange of emails in between the meetings (last on 5 June 2017). The Member States were consulted by written procedure, which ended on 16 June 2017.

4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

This proposal has no impact on the EU budget.