L 187/44 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.7.2002 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 12 July 2002 on the adaptation of parts IIl and VIII of the common consular instructions (2002/585EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 789/2001 of 24 April 2001 reserving to the Council implementing powers with regard to certain detailed provisions and practical procedures for examining visa applications ('), Having regard to the initiative of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Kingdom of Spain, Whereas: 1) It is necessary to ensure the maximum possible harmo- nisation of the processing of visa applications lodged through travel agencies with the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member States in order to reduce the risks of visa shopping and abuse of proce- dure. It is necessary to incorporate into the common consular instructions rules which supplement in greater detail the arrangements for and monitoring of cooperation with private administrative agencies, local travel agencies and package tour operators in the processing of visa applica- tions with the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member States. The purpose of defining the conditions for cooperation with travel agencies is not to inhibit free competition between them but solely to establish the conditions on which diplomatic missions and consular posts may cooperate with travel agencies to process visa applica- tions. (4) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on Euro- pean Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark is not participating in the adop- tion of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Since this Decision aims to build upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community, in accordance with Article 5 of the said Protocol Denmark will decide within a period of six months after the Council has adopted this Decision whether it will trans- pose it into its national law. As regards the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis falling within the area referred to in Article 1(B) of Council Decision 1999/ 437[EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (%). In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, those Member States are not participating in the adoption of this Decision and are therefore not bound by it or subject to its application, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 In point 4 of part Il of the common consular instructions the following paragraph shall be added: ‘Part VIIL5 contains more detailed rules on visa applications processed by private administrative agencies, travel agencies and tour operators and their retailers.’ () O] L 116, 26.4.2001, p. 2. ) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.