By its Decision 2009/900/EC1, the Council concluded the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles on the short-stay visa waiver2 (the ‘Agreement’). The Agreement provides for visa-free travel for the citizens of the Union and for the citizens of the Republic of Seychelles when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 3 months during a 6-month period.

Regulation (EU) No 610/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council3 introduced horizontal changes in the Union's visa and border acquis and defined a short stay as a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.

It is necessary to incorporate this new definition into the Agreement in order to fully harmonise the Union's short-stay regime.

On 9 October 2014, the Council adopted a decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with the Republic of Seychelles on an agreement which amends the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles on the short-stay visa waiver (the ‘amending Agreement’).

Negotiations on the amending Agreement were successfully finalised by the initialling thereof, by Exchange of Letters, on 15 July 2016.

The amending Agreement should be signed, and the declarations attached to the amending Agreement should be approved, on behalf of the Union.

This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2000/365/EC4; the United Kingdom is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC5; Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application,