
Article 1 
The table of Annex 12 of the Common Consular Instructions and the table of Annex 14a of the Common Manual shall be replaced by the following table:
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Type of visa Fees to be charged (in EUR)
Airport transit visa (Category A) 60
Transit visa (Category B) 60
Short-stay visa (1 to 90 days) (Category C) 60
Visa with limited territorial validity (Categories B and C) 60
Visa issued at the border (Categories B and C) 60This visa may be issued free of charge.
Group visa (Categories A, B and C) 60 + 1 per person
National long-stay visa (Category D) The amount shall be fixed by the Member States, who may decide to issue these visas free of charge.
National long-stay visa valid concurrently as a short stay visa (Categories D and C) The amount shall be fixed by the Member States, who may decide to issue these visas free of charge.'
Article 2 
In Annex 12 to the Common Consular Instructions and in Annex 14a to the Common Manual, point II of the ‘Rules’ shall be replaced by the following:
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II.1. In individual cases, the amount of the fee to be charged may be waived or reduced in accordance with national law when this measure serves to promote cultural interests as well as interests in the field of foreign policy, development policy, other areas of vital public interest or for humanitarian reasons.

II.2. 

— children under six years,
— school pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training, and
— researchers from third countries travelling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research as defined in the Recommendation 2005/761/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005 to facilitate the issue by the Member States of uniform short-stay visas for researchers from third countries travelling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research.

II.3. A fee reduction or waiver for nationals of a third country may also be the result of a visa facilitation agreement concluded between the European Community and that third country consistent with the Community's overall approach to visa facilitation agreements.

II.4. Until 1 January 2008, this Decision shall not affect the fee to be charged to nationals of third countries in respect of which the Council will have given the Commission, by 1 January 2007, a mandate to negotiate a visa facilitation agreement.
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Article 3 
This Decision shall apply as from 1 January 2007.
Member States may apply this Decision before 1 January 2007 but not earlier than 1 October 2006, provided that they notify the General Secretariat of the Council of the date from which they are in a position to do so.
Article 4 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.
Done at Luxembourg, 1 June 2006.
For the Council
The President
L. PROKOP
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.

On the basis of the process and considerations laid down in the common approach on visa facilitation based on a case-by-case assessment of the countries concerned, and having regard to Rule II.3 of this Decision, the Council invites the Commission to bring forward recommendations for mandates for initiating negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission agreements, starting with the countries with a European perspective as referred to in the European Council Conclusions of June 2003 and June 2005.
