Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 77(2)(a), in conjunction with Article 218(5), thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

On 27 November 2008 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Georgia on an agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Agreement’). The negotiations were successfully concluded and the Agreement was initialled on 25 November 2009.

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 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 ^f1; the United Kingdom is therefore not taking part in its adoption 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/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland’s request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis ^f2; Ireland is therefore not taking part in its adoption and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

The Agreement should be signed subject to its conclusion,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: