09/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - The agreement between the European Union and Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation came into force on 1 June 2004, according to information from the Council published in Official Journal L258 of 5 August. Under the agreement, Macao must readmit its residents found residing without authorisation in the EU, along with its permanent residents holding residence permits and any other people entering the EU through Macao. The readmission obligation does not extend to people simply transiting through Macao airport. Similar obligations apply to EU Member States. The European Commission recognises that the number of people covered by the agreement is virtually zero, describing it as 'compensation' for the lifting of the visa obligation for Macao. The Agreement was signed in October 2003 (see Europe of 16 October 2003).