Brussels, 11/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - the agreement between Macao and the European Community on the readmission of persons illegally residing, was published in the Official Journal (L 143 30 April) after being definitely approved by the Council on 21 April. It was signed last October (EUROPE 16 October). After the agreement concluded with Hong Kong, this is the second agreement between the European Community and a third country, through which the latter is committed to readmitting onto its territory not only nationals intercepted who are living illegally on European territory but also permanent residents, holders of a residence permit and those who entered the EU via Macao. On the other hand the readmission is not valid for those who travelled via Macao airport without entering its territory. EU Member States will be obliged to respect the same rules. The European Commission recognised that the number of people affected by this agreement "is close to zero" and it is more of a matter of "compensation" after the lifting of obligatory visas for Macao.