PROTOCOL

to the Agreement on the Member States that do not fully apply the Schengen

acquis

Those Member States which are bound by the Schengen

acquis

but which do not yet issue Schengen visas, while awaiting the relevant decision of the Council to that end, shall issue national visas the validity of which is limited to their own territory.

The European Community will undertake as soon as possible measures to simplify the transit of holders of Schengen visa or Schengen residence permits through the territory of the Member States that do not fully apply the Schengen

acquis

yet.

Joint Declaration on Article 6(2) of the Agreement on fees for processing visa applications

The Parties shall examine the implementation of Article 6(2) of the Agreement in the framework of the Committee set up by the Agreement.

Joint Declaration on Article 11 of the Agreement on diplomatic passports

Each Party may invoke a partial suspension of the Agreement and in particular of Article 11, in accordance with the procedure set up by Article 15(5) of this Agreement, if the implementation of Article 11 is abused by the other Party or leads to a threat to public security.

If the implementation of Article 11 is suspended, both Parties shall initiate consultations in the framework of the Committee set up by the Agreement with a view to solving the problems that lead to the suspension.

As a priority, both Parties declare their commitment to ensure a high level of document security for diplomatic passports, in particular by integrating biometric identifiers. For the European Union side, this will be ensured in compliance with the requirements set out in Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004.

Joint Declaration on issuance of short-stay visas for visits to military and civil burial grounds

The Parties agree that, as a rule, short-stay visas for persons visiting military and civil burial grounds shall be issued for a period of up to 14 days.

Joint Declaration on the harmonisation of information on procedures for issuing short stay visa and documents to be submitted when applying for short stay visas

Recognising the importance of transparency for visa applicants, the Parties to the present Agreement consider that appropriate measures should be taken:

— in general, to draw up basic information for applicants on the procedures and conditions for applying for visas, the visas and on the validity of visas issued,

— each Party, on its own, to draw up a list of minimum requirements in order to ensure that applicants are given coherent and uniform basic information and are required to submit, in principle, the same supporting documents.

The information mentioned above is to be disseminated widely (on the information board of consulates, in leaflets, on websites in the Internet etc.).

Joint Declaration concerning the Kingdom of Denmark

The Parties take note that the present Agreement does not apply to the procedures for issuing visas by the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Kingdom of Denmark.

In such circumstances, it is desirable that the authorities of the Kingdom of Denmark and of the Russian Federation conclude, without delay, a bilateral agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of short-stay visas in similar terms as the Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation.

Joint Declaration concerning the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland

The Parties take note that the present Agreement does not apply to the territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.

In such circumstances, it is desirable that the authorities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ireland and the Russian Federation, conclude bilateral agreements on the facilitation of the issuance of visas.

Joint Declaration concerning the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway

The Parties take note of the close relationship between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway, particularly by virtue of the Agreement of 18 May 1999 concerning the association of these countries with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen

acquis

.

In such circumstances, it is desirable that the authorities of the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway and the Russian Federation conclude, without delay, bilateral agreements on the facilitation of the issuance of short-stay visas in similar terms as this Agreement.