EU READMISSION AGREEMENTS: BRIEF OVERVIEW OF STATE OF PLAY I. AGREEMENTS IN FORCE

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1 EU READMISSION AGREEMENTS: BRIEF OVERVIEW OF STATE OF PLAY t for wider dissemination, for internal EU use only! I. AGREEMENTS IN FORCE First Round signed Entry into force Coupled with Visa Hong Kong April 2001 October vember March 2004 Macao April 2001 October October June 2004 Sri Lanka September 2000 July June May 2005 Albania vember 2002 May April May 2006 Russia September 2000 January May June 2007 Ukraine June vember June January 2008 FYROM vember December September January 2008 Yes Bosnia&Herzegovina vember December September January 2008 Yes Montenegro vember December September January 2008 Yes Serbia vember December September January 2008 Yes Moldova December February October January 2008 Yes Visa facilitation was offered to Albania (together with the other WBalkan countries) after the readmission agreement had already entered into force. Visa facilitation was offered when readmission negotiations had already started but were not progressing.

2 II. AGREEMENTS SIGNED Pakistan September 2000 First Round April 2004 Round. 7 on 17 September 2007 in Last Round Current situation/outlook Coupled with Visa The was signed on 26 October 2009 and the is now being ratified by both sides. LIBE will vote on the draft report, which recommends approval of the agreement, on 13 July. Vote in Plenary foreseen for September. III. NEGOTIATIONS COMPLETED Georgia vember 2008 First Round 2 April 2009 Last Round Current situation/outlook Coupled with Visa 3rd formal round on 25 August in The was initialled on 26 vember Commission has adopted the draft Council Decisions for signature and conclusion of the agreement on 5 May Council now first needs to adopt the signature decision but that will be delayed due to the UK and IE three month opt-in delays. This means that signature decision cannot be adopted before 5 August. In the mean time, a first presentation by Cion of the has taken place in the EP/LIBE. Yes

3 IV. ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS First Round Last round to date Current situation/outlook Coupled with Visa Morocco September 2000 April th formal round on 10 May 2010 in Turkey vember 2002 May th formal round on 17 May 2010 in After the January 2009 round followed by MS consultations in the Council, three major points are still open: (1) time delays (2) means of evidence for TCN in the Protocol (3) relationship between the EC agreement and the MS Morocco bilateral readmission arrangements in place. On the occasion of an informal meeting between the negotiators held in July 2009, MOR hinted additionally to some language regarding the financial assistance which it would like to see introduced in the agreement (currently in the form of a mere declaration). The abovementioned points set the perimeter of talks now. Both Parties should now exchange their respective positions and possible flexibility on the outstanding points. Following that, the next round of negotiations will be prepared. After significant efforts undertaken by the EU side, the negotiations were formally re-launched on 19 February 2010 at Director-General's level. After three rounds of negotiations the text was cleared between the chief negotiators. Subsequent consultations of the MS within the

4 Cape Verde Council took place in particular in COREPER of 27 May and JHA Council of 3-4 June. Concerns were raised regarding the border region definition and the so called "best efforts" clause. The Commission is working closely with the most concerned MS in order to find agreeable solutions to these issues. Once agreed with the MS and if necessary, the Commission will contact Turkey in order to finalise the text. June July July 2009 The first exploratory meeting between the negotiators took place 13 July The main preoccupation of CV seems to be the clause of readmission of third country nationals due to CV's limited capacity of both reception and effective control of its vast territorial waters. Technical meeting organised on 4 February 2010 did not bring many developments. The next round of talks is in preparation. V. NEGOTIATIONS NOT YET FORMALLY LAUNCHED Yes Current situation China vember 2002 China wants visa facilitation agreement in return for readmission. A draft Migration Article to be included in the PCA with China which has been prepared by DG HOME, and which includes both substantial readmission provisions as well as some conditional visa facilitation measures, has been transmitted to DG Relex and has subsequently been presented to Chinese side. Chinese side seemed open to discuss this EU draft DG HOME Coupled with Visa (but 'Current Situation' explanation to

5 will now have to follow this up with Chinese at technical or formal level. Algeria vember 2002 Several formal exchanges of views on readmission took place in context of JLS Sub-Ctte meetings. Algeria flatly refuses to negotiate EU readmission if EU does not offer visa facilitation in parallel. During the last meeting of the Association Council with Algeria held in June, COM again stressed the crucial importance of readmission talks for relations between both Parties. Algeria still declines to start negotiations until the visa facilitation talks are also ongoing. COM intends to further insist (including on political level) on opening the negotiations. be noted)