{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2019-2228/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2019-2228/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2019/2228",
  "legislation_title": "Council Decision (EU) 2019/2228 of 19 December 2019 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2019-2228",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Decision (EU) 2019/2228\nof 19 December 2019\non the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 79(3), in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nOn 28 February 2011, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Republic of Belarus on an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation (‘the Agreement’). The negotiations were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Agreement via exchange of emails on 17 June 2019.\n(2)\nIn the Eastern Partnership Summit Declaration of 7 May 2009, the Union and the partner countries reaffirmed their political support towards full liberalisation of the visa regime in a secure environment, and towards promoting mobility by concluding visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Eastern Partnership countries.\n(3)\nThe purpose of the Agreement is to establish rapid and effective procedures for the identification and safe and orderly return of persons who do not, or no longer, fulfil the conditions for entry to, presence in, or residence on the territory of Belarus or of a Member State of the Union, and to facilitate the transit of such persons in a spirit of cooperation.\n(4)\nIn accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and without prejudice to Article 4 of that Protocol, those Member States are not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and are not bound by it or subject to its application.\n(5)\nIn accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 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.\n(6)\nThe Agreement should be signed and the Joint Declarations attached to the Agreement be approved,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2019/2228/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:12:27.050999+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}