TITLE V LOCAL SCHENGEN COOPERATION
Article 48Local Schengen cooperation between Member States’ consulates
1.In order to ensure a harmonised application of the common visa policy taking into account, where appropriate, local circumstances, Member States’ consulates and the Commission shall cooperate within each jurisdiction and assess the need to establish in particular:
(a)a harmonised list of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants, taking into account Article 14 and Annex II;
(b)common criteria for examining applications in relation to exemptions from paying the visa fee in accordance with Article 16(5) and matters relating to the translation of the application form in accordance with Article 11(5);
(c)an exhaustive list of travel documents issued by the host country, which shall be updated regularly.
If in relation to one or more of the points (a) to (c), the assessment within local Schengen cooperation confirms the need for a local harmonised approach, measures on such an approach shall be adopted pursuant to the procedure referred to in Article 52(2).
2.Within local Schengen cooperation a common information sheet shall be established on uniform visas and visas with limited territorial validity and airport transit visas, namely, the rights that the visa implies and the conditions for applying for it, including, where applicable, the list of supporting documents as referred to in paragraph 1(a).
3.The following information shall be exchanged within local Schengen cooperation:
(a)monthly statistics on uniform visas, visas with limited territorial validity, and airport transit visas issued, as well as the number of visas refused;
(b)with regard to the assessment of migratory and/or security risks, information on:
the socioeconomic structure of the host country;
sources of information at local level, including social security, health insurance, fiscal registers and entry-exit registrations;
the use of false, counterfeit or forged documents;
illegal immigration routes;
refusals;
(c)information on cooperation with transport companies;
(d)information on insurance companies providing adequate travel medical insurance, including verification of the type of coverage and possible excess amount.
4.Local Schengen cooperation meetings to deal specifically with operational issues in relation to the application of the common visa policy shall be organised regularly among Member States and the Commission. These meetings shall be convened within the jurisdiction by the Commission, unless otherwise agreed at the request of the Commission.
Single-topic meetings may be organised and sub-groups set up to study specific issues within local Schengen cooperation.
5.Summary reports of local Schengen cooperation meetings shall be drawn up systematically and circulated locally. The Commission may delegate the drawing up of the reports to a Member State. The consulates of each Member State shall forward the reports to their central authorities.
On the basis of these reports, the Commission shall draw up an annual report within each jurisdiction to be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council.
6.Representatives of the consulates of Member States not applying the Community acquis in relation to visas, or of third countries, may on an ad hoc basis be invited to participate in meetings for the exchange of information on issues relating to visas.