THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular point (a) of Article 77(2), in conjunction with Article 218(5), thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EU) No 509/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council transferred the reference to the Republic of Peru from Annex I to Annex II to Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001.
(2)
That reference to the Republic of Peru is accompanied by a footnote indicating that the exemption from the visa requirement shall apply from the date of entry into force of an agreement on visa exemption to be concluded with the European Union.
(3)
Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 509/2014, the Commission assessed the situation of the Republic of Peru with regard to the criteria set out in that Regulation. On 29 October 2014, the Commission adopted a report concluding that the significant improvement of the Peruvian economic and social situation in recent years provided justification for exempting Peruvian nationals from the visa requirement when travelling to the European Union.
(4)
On 19 May 2015, the Council adopted a decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with the Republic of Peru for the conclusion of an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Peru on the short-stay visa waiver (the ‘Agreement’).
(5)
Negotiations on the Agreement were opened on 20 May 2015 and were successfully finalised by the initialling thereof on 9 June 2015.
(6)
The Agreement should be signed, and the declarations attached to the Agreement should be approved, on behalf of the Union. The Agreement should be applied on a provisional basis as from the day following the date of signature thereof, pending the completion of the procedures for its formal conclusion.
(7)
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 taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.
(8)
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 taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: