Date: 2016-09-30Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2016/1742 of 20 September 2016 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver
Executive Summary:
This Council Decision (EU) 2016/1742 approves the Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver on behalf of the Union. The agreement was signed and has been provisionally applied since November 21, 2015. The decision entered into force on the day of its adoption, September 20, 2016.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Agreement Approval:** The Agreement between the EU and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver is approved.
* **Notification:** The President of the Council will provide notification as per Article 8(1) of the Agreement.
* **Joint Committee Representation:** The Commission, assisted by Member State representatives, will represent the Union in the Joint Committee of experts.
* **Schengen Acquis:** The United Kingdom and Ireland do not participate in this decision.
Impact Analysis:
European Union:
* Impact: The EU is now party to the short-stay visa waiver agreement with the Kingdom of Tonga, facilitating easier travel for its citizens to Tonga.
* Action Required: The President of the Council must provide the notification as per Article 8(1) of the Agreement. The Commission must represent the EU in the Joint Committee, assisted by Member States representatives.
Kingdom of Tonga:
* Impact: Tonga is now party to the short-stay visa waiver agreement with the EU, facilitating easier travel for its citizens to the EU.
* Action Required: No specific action is outlined in this document.
European Commission:
* Impact: The Commission is responsible for representing the Union in the Joint Committee of experts.
* Action Required: Represent the Union in the Joint Committee of experts, assisted by the representatives of the Member States.
Member States:
* Impact: Member States' representatives will assist the Commission in the Joint Committee.
* Action Required: Provide assistance to the Commission in the Joint Committee.
Citizens of the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga:
* Impact: Citizens will benefit from visa-free short stays in the respective territories.
* Action Required: No action required.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic alliance of European countries.
Kingdom of Tonga: A Polynesian country and archipelago comprising 169 islands.
Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver: An international agreement waiving visa requirements for short stays between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, defining its scope and governance.
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day affairs.
European Parliament: The parliamentary body of the European Union, directly elected by EU citizens.
Council Decision EU 2015/2226: Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver.
Joint Committee of experts: A committee established by the Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver for the management of the Agreement.
30.9.2016 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 264/23
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2016/1742
of 20 September 2016
on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European
Union and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular point (a) of Article 77(2), in
conjunction with point (a)(v) of the second subparagraph of Article 218(6), thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),
Whereas:
(1) The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the European Union an agreement with the Kingdom of Tonga on
the short-stay visa waiver (the ‘Agreement’).
(2) In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2015/2226 (2), the Agreement has been signed and is applied on
a provisional basis as from 21 November 2015.
(3) The Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement. The Union is to be
represented within that Joint Committee by the Commission, which should be assisted by the representatives of
the Member States.
(4) This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom
does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2000/365/EC (3); the United Kingdom is therefore not
taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.
(5) This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take
part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC (4); Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption
of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.
(6) The Agreement should be approved,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver is hereby
approved on behalf of the Union.
Article 2
The President of the Council shall give, on behalf of the Union, the notification provided for in Article 8(1) of the
Agreement (5).
(1) Consent given on 8 June 2016 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(2) Council Decision (EU) 2015/2226 of 26 October 2015 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of
the Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Tonga on the short-stay visa waiver (OJ L 317, 3.12.2015, p. 1).
(3) Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to
take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43).
(4) Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen
acquis (OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20).
(5) The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of
the Council.L 264/24 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.9.2016
Article 3
The Commission, assisted by the representatives of the Member States, shall represent the Union within the Joint
Committee of experts set up pursuant to Article 6 of the Agreement.
Article 4
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 20 September 2016.
For the Council
The President
I. KORČOK