20.12.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 334/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 2046/2005 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 14 December 2005 relating to measures envisa§ed to facilitate the procedures for applying for and issuing visas for members of the Olympic family taking part in the 2006 Olympic and/or Paralympic Winter Games in Turin THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 62(2), points (a) and (b)(ii) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (1), Whereas: 1 Council Regulation (EC) No 1295/2003 of 15 July 2003 relating to measures envisaged to facilitate the procedures for applying for and issuing visas for members of the Olympic family taking part in the Olympic or Paralympic Games in Athens (3) established a specific temporary system derogating from the normal procedures for issuing visas for the members of the Olympic family participating in the Athens 2004 Olympic and/or Paralympic Games, to enable Greece to host the first Olympic and Paralympic Games organised by a Member State which is part of the Schengen area without internal borders and in order to allow Greece to respect its obligation under the Olympic Charter. Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 November 2005 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 1 December 2005. OJ L 183, 22.7.2003, p. 1. ) G) ) Regulation (EC) No 1295/2003 laid down specific provisions facilitating the procedures for submitting applications for uniform visas and the form in which visas were issued for the members of the Olympic family, as well as specific provisions simplifying external border checks for that category of persons. Moreover, it provided for an evaluation report on the functioning of the Regulation to be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council. In its evaluation, the Commission concluded that the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1295/2003 was successful, and the derogation system has been con- sidered effective, flexible and adequate for regulating the entry and short stay of members of the Olympic family participating in the Games, within the Schengen area without internal borders. Therefore the European Union should adopt a similar derogation system for the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to allow Italy to honour, as host country, its Olympic Charter obligations, while ensuring a high level of security in the Schengen area without internal borders. Although the visa obligation is maintained for members of the Olympic family who are nationals of third countries subject to the visa requirement under Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing