European Parliament 2014-2019
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
2017/0179(NLE)
02.2.2018
*** DRAFT RECOMMENDATION
on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and Barbados amending the Agreement between the European Community and Barbados on the short-stay visa waiver (COM(2017)0402– C8-xxxx/2017 – 2017/0179(NLE))
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Rapporteur: Emilian Pavel
PR\1144187EN.docx PE616.790v01-00
EN United in diversityEN PR_NLE-AP_Agreement
Symbols for procedures
* Consultation procedure *** Consent procedure ***I Ordinary legislative procedure (first reading) ***II Ordinary legislative procedure (second reading) ***III Ordinary legislative procedure (third reading)
(The type of procedure depends on the legal basis proposed by the draft act.)
PE616.790v01-00 2/7 PR\1144187EN.docx EN CONTENTS
Page
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION ...... 5
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT ...... 6
PR\1144187EN.docx 3/7 PE616.790v01-00 EN PE616.790v01-00 4/7 PR\1144187EN.docx EN DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and Barbados amending the Agreement between the European Community and Barbados on the short-stay visa waiver (COM(2017)0402– C8-xxxx/2017 – 2017/0179(NLE))
(Consent)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the proposal for a Council decision (COM(2017)0402),
– having regard to the draft agreement between the European Union and Barbados amending the Agreement between the European Community and Barbados on the short- stay visa waiver (12385/2017),
– having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 77(2), point (a), and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C8-xxxx/2017),
– having regard to Rule 99(1) and (4) and Rule 108(7) of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A8-0000/2018),
1. Gives its consent to conclusion of the agreement;
2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of Barbados.
PR\1144187EN.docx 5/7 PE616.790v01-00 EN EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
This amending agreement on the waiver of short-stay visas constitutes simultaneously represents a culmination of the deepening of relations between the European Union and Barbados, which is politically highly significant in the context of the Cotonou Agreement.. The amending agreement ensures legal coherence as well as harmonisation among Member States, by adhering to the new definition of short-stay as is provided by the Schengen Borders Code amendment, which provides a clearer interpretation of 'short-stay'.
Barbados is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Association of Caribbean States, Caribbean Community, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of American States, United Nations and World Trade Organization.
Barbados has an exceptionally high ‘quality of life’ rating for a developing country. The economy, formerly a sugar monoculture, was developed over three decades to achieve a balance of growth and social development, and diversified into three main sectors: services, light industry and sugar.
Politically speaking Barbados is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, recognising Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. The Queen is represented by a Governor- General appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. There is a bicameral legislature and party system, based on universal adult suffrage. The constitution may be amended by act of parliament passed by both houses, except for entrenched clauses, which require two-thirds majorities in both houses. These clauses relate to citizenship, rights and freedoms, the governor-generalship, composition of parliament and its sessions, prorogation and dissolution, general elections, senatorial appointments, executive authority, judicature, civil service and finance.
The EU’s political dialogue with the various Pacific ACP countries and Barbados in particular is gradually increasing.
Furthermore, the rapporteur would stress the by no means negligible impact, which the visa waiver will have on rapprochement between the peoples of Europe and Barbados . The new visa waiver agreement will enable citizens not only to derive full benefit from the ACP-EU partnership but continuing to participate in it by travelling at a reduced, economical and practical cost under a clearer and more coherent legal framework.
In this context, the rapporteur welcomes the role played by members of the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly, who did much to contribute to the conclusion of this agreement, which, in addition, will facilitate their attendance at meetings of the ACP-EU JPA.
Specific provisions
The close involvement of Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia with the implementation, application and development of the Visa Policy of the Schengen Area must be reflected in a joint declaration annexed to the Agreement. The declaration would encourage the authorities of those countries to conclude as quickly as possible bilateral agreements with Barbados on the short-stay visa waiver in terms similar to those of this Agreement.
PE616.790v01-00 6/7 PR\1144187EN.docx EN The specific situation of the United Kingdom and Ireland is taken into account in the preamble. Thus the United Kingdom and Ireland will not participate in the agreement which has been concluded and are not subject to its provisions.
The close involvement of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis is likewise reflected in a joint declaration annexed to the Agreement. The declaration encourages the authorities of those countries to conclude as quickly as possible with Barbados bilateral agreements on the short-stay visa waiver in terms similar to those of this Agreement.
**
Finally, the rapporteur recommends that the members of Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs support this report and that the European Parliament give its consent.
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