COUNCIL DECISION

of 19 April 2007

on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of issuance of short-stay visas

(2007/340/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular points 2(b)(i) and (ii) of Article 62 thereof, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the European Community an Agreement with the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation.

(2) The Agreement was signed, on behalf of the European Community, on 25 May 2006 subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, in accordance with a Council Decision adopted on 22 May 2006.

(3) The Agreement should be approved.

(4) The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee for the management of the Agreement, which may adopt its rules of procedure. It is appropriate to provide for a simplified procedure for the establishment of the Community position in this case.

(5) In accordance with the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland and the Protocol integrating the Schengen

acquis

into the framework of the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland do not take part in the adoption of this Decision and are therefore not bound by it or subject to its application.

(6) In accordance with the Protocol on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark does not take part in the adoption of this Decision and is therefore not bound by it or subject to its application,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall give the notification provided for in Article 15(1) of the Agreement (1).

Article 3

The Commission, assisted by experts from Member States, shall represent the Community in the Joint Committee of experts established by Article 13 of the Agreement.

Article 4

The position of the Community within the Joint Committee of experts with regard to the adoption of its rules of procedure as required under Article 13(4) of the Agreement shall be taken by the Commission after consultation with a special committee designated by the Council.

Article 5

This Decision shall be published in the

Official Journal of the European Union

Done at Luxembourg, 19 April 2007.

For the Council

The President

B. ZYPRIES

(1) 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.