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The Council and Commission note that visa facilitation, that is simplification of visa issuing procedures for nationals of third countries who are under visa obligation, can provide further opportunities for promoting contacts between the EU and neighbouring countries, including by way of waiving or reducing the fees for certain categories of nationals of third countries.

The Council and Commission also note that the common approach on visa facilitation provides the possibility to open, on a case by case assessment, visa facilitation negotiations with third countries, while bearing in mind the European Union's overall relationship with candidate countries, countries with a European perspective and countries covered by the European neighbourhood policy as well as with strategic partners.

The Council and Commission confirm their support for the development of visa facilitation agreements with third countries in accordance with the process and considerations laid down in the common approach on visa facilitation, emphasising the need to negotiate parallel agreements on readmission, with a view to the simultaneous entry into force of such agreements.

The Council and Commission recall that, in the context of promoting people-to-people contacts with neighbouring countries in a manner consistent with overall EU policy objectives, Member States should make use of the possibilities offered by the Schengen acquis, in particular where such people-to-people contacts can contribute to the strengthening of civil society and democratisation in those countries. The Council and Commission also request that the impact of the new measures for this purpose be kept under review.