Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/281
of 26 February 2016
determining the date from which the Visa Information System (VIS) is to start operations at external border crossing points

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 concerning the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas (VIS Regulation), and in particular Article 48(3) thereof,
OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 60.
Whereas:
(1) According to Commission Decision 2010/49/EC, external border crossing points, as defined by Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, constitute a separate region where the collection and transmission of data to the Visa Information System (VIS) for all applications should start.
Commission Decision 2010/49/EC of 30 November 2009 determining the first regions for the start of operations of the Visa Information System (VIS) (OJ L 23, 27.1.2010, p. 62).
Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (OJ L 105, 13.4.2006, p. 1).
(2) Member States have notified the Commission that they have made the necessary technical and legal arrangements to collect and transmit the data referred to in Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 to the VIS for all applications in this region.
(3) The condition laid down by the first sentence of Article 48(3) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 thus being fulfilled, it is therefore necessary to determine the date from which the VIS is to start operations at external border crossing points.
(4) Given that Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 builds upon the Schengen acquis, Denmark, in accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, decided to implement Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 in its national law. Denmark is therefore bound under international law to implement this Decision.
(5) 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/EC; the United Kingdom is therefore not bound by this Decision or subject to its application.
Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43).
(6) 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/EC; Ireland is therefore not bound by this Decision or subject to its application.
Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20).
(7) As regards Iceland and Norway, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the latters' association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis , which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B of Council Decision 1999/437/EC.
OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36.
Council Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31).
(8) As regards Switzerland, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis , which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2008/146/EC.
OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 52.
Council Decision 2008/146/EC of 28 January 2008 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 1).
(9) As regards Liechtenstein, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis , which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2011/350/EU.
OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 21.
Council Decision 2011/350/EU of 7 March 2011 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, relating to the abolition of checks at internal borders and movement of persons (OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 19).
(10) This Decision constitutes an act building upon, or otherwise related to, the Schengen acquis within respectively, the meaning of Article 3(2) of the 2003 Act of Accession, of Article 4(2) of the 2005 Act of Accession and of Article 4(2) of the 2011 Act of Accession.
(11) In view of the need to set the date for the start of the VIS at the external border crossing points in the very near future, this Decision should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The Visa Information System shall start operations at external border crossing points region determined by Decision 2010/49/EC on 29 February 2016.
Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 3 This Decision shall apply in accordance with the Treaties.
Done at Brussels, 26 February 2016.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude Juncker