L 187/48 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.7.2002 COUNCIL DECISION of 12 July 2002 on the amendment of part VI of the common consular instructions (2002/586/EC) 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 Spain, Whereas: 1) ( ( ( ( 1 2 3 7) The establishment of a uniform visa format and, in particular, common rules on the technical methods and standards to be used for filling in the form are essential elements in the harmonisation of visa policy. Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/1995 of 29 May 1995 laying down a uniform format for visas (), as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 334/2002 (), establishes further technical security specifications against forgery and falsification, including in particular the integration of a photograph produced according to high security standards; it is therefore necessary to adapt part VI of the common consular instructions to incorporate these new measures when filling in the new uniform visa sticker. Council Regulation (EC) No 333/2002 (%) lays down a uniform format for forms for affixing a visa, which must be produced in accordance with certain technical specifi- cations, which must also include security features and requirements, in particular higher standards to prevent counterfeiting and falsification; the common consular instructions should accordingly be adapted to the procedures for applying this Regulation. (4) Article 1 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 Instrument aims to build upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark shall, in accordance with Article 5 of the said Protocol, 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 nor subject to its application, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Part VI of the common consular instructions shall be amended as follows: 1. In point 1.6, the second paragraph shall be replaced by the following: ‘Where, because the holder's travel document is not recognised, the uniform format for forms is used for the visa, the issuing diplomatic mission or consular post may opt to use the same form to extend the validity of the visa to the holder's spouse and to accompanying minors dependent on the holder of the form who accompany the holder or to issue separate forms for the holder, his spouse and each person dependent on him, affixing the corresponding visa on each form separately. The passport number is the series number which is pre-printed or perforated on all or almost all of the pages of the passport. The number to be entered under this heading, in the case of a visa to be affixed to the uniform format form, is not the passport number but the same typographical number as appears on the form, made up of six digits, which may be accompanied by the letter or letters assigned to the Member State or group of Member States which issued the visa. 116, 26.4.2001, p. 2. 164, 14.7.1995, p. 1. ) O] L ) O] L ) O] L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 7. ) O] L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 4. () O] L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.