Brussels, 27/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Council recently formally adopted the following texts: a) Regulation on freedom of movement with a long-stay visa. This Regulation replaces Article 18 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement by a new text which will enable long-stay visa holders to move in other Member State territories for a three month period from their visas' initial date of validity, pending the issue of their residence permits; b) Decision containing the adaptations of the Common Consular Instructions on visas and the Common Manual in order to facilitate the application of the Council Regulation (referred to in the previous item) on freedom of movement with a long stay visa currently as a short stay visa in other Member States; c) Conclusions on the common analysis and the improved exchange of statistics on asylum and immigration, in which it invites the Commission to present a proposal to this end as soon as possible.
The Council also noted the report on the state of progress of work undertaken under the Swedish Presidency within the High Level Asylum and Migration Group, on dialogue with the countries of origin and transit, dialogue with third countries involved, dialogue with the international organisations and the NGOs, as well as thematic issues. It adopted an EU declaration that must be issued on 28 July at the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention on refugee status.