The European Commission has presented a proposal for a Regulation laying down specific measures to facilitate…
The European Commission has presented a proposal for a Regulation laying down specific measures to facilitate the procedure for applying for and issuing visas and the entry into the Schengen area for members of the Olympic family who are to take part in the 2004 Olympic and/or Paralympic Games in Athens. Coming on top of the support provided by the European Structural Funds for the preparation of the Olympics and the initiatives now being finalised between the European Commission and the Games Organising Committee in the field of sport and youth, the proposed regulation confirms the excellent cooperation between the European Union and the Olympic movement in a year when the Athens games will coincide with the European Year of education through sport.
Mr Vitorino, the Commissioner with responsibility for Justice and Home Affairs, stated: Temporary exceptions need to be made to certain Community rules in order to facilitate the organisation in a Member State of this great sporting event, the Olympic Games. These facilities are justified by the exceptional nature of the event and should not affect the essential principles and the proper operation of the Schengen area.
This is the first time that a Member State, Greece, has been selected to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games snce the frontier-free area was established and the Schengen acquis brought within the Union framework. What is more, the next Winter Games will also take place within the Schengen area, in Turin in 2006.
In order to enable Greece to honour the undertakings given under the Olympic Charter and not to harm the chances of future bids by other cities in Member States to host the Olympic Games, the Commission proposal sets out measures which would allow Greece to derogate from the procedures for applying for and issuing visas for members of the Olympic family in order to facilitate their entry into the Schengen area to take part in the 2004 Games in Athens. The Commission is not seeking to abolish the visa requirement for members of the Olympic family who, because of their nationality, are subject to that requirement under Regulation No 539/2001.
The Commission`s proposal is that a specific visa application procedure for members of the Olympic family should be grafted onto the standard accreditation procedure that applies to them. They would not be required to go in person to the consular services to apply for a visa or to collect it as the visa would take the form of a specific number incorporated directly into the Olympic identity and accreditation card. These exceptional arrangements, which would spare Members of the Olympic family any additional formalities, would apply only for the duration of the 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games. There would be an evaluation after the closure of the Games.
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