7.3.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 64/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 415/2003 of 27 February 2003 on the issue of visas at the border, including the issue of such visas to seamen in transit THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 62, point (2)(b)(ii), thereof, Having regard to the initiative of the Kingdom of Spain ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (), Whereas: 1 The rules for issuing visas at the border to seamen in transit need to be clarified and updated, in particular to allow group transit visas to be issued at the border to seamen who are of the same nationality and are travel- ling in a group, as long as the period of transit is limited. It is therefore necessary to replace the rules contained in the Schengen Executive Committee Decision of 19 December 1996 on issuing visas to seamen in transit (SCH/Com-ex (96) 27) () by the rules set out in this Regulation. In the interests of clarity, these rules should be amalgamated with the general rules contained in Schengen Executive Committee Decision of 26 April 1994 on the issue of uniform visas at the border (SCH/ Com-ex (94) 2) (*), which also corresponds to Annex 14 of the Common Manual (°). The said Decisions and Annex should therefore be repealed. The Common Manual and the Common Consular Instructions on visas for the diplomatic missions and consular posts (¢) should also be amended to take into account this Regulation. When deciding on the format of the separate sheet mentioned in Annex I to which the group transit visa should be affixed, Member States should take into account the uniform format, as set out in Council Regu- lation (EC) No 333/2002 of 18 February 2002 on a uniform format for forms for affixing the visa issued by () O] C 139, 12.6.2002, p. 6. (*) Opinion of 11 February 2003 (not yet published in the Official () () () () 6 Journal). ’) OJ L 239, 22.9.2000, p. 182. J L 239, 22.9.2000, p. 163. ] C 313, 16.12.2002, p. 97. ] C 313, 16.12.2002, p. 1. (4) Member States to persons holding travel documents not recognised by the Member State drawing up the form (). The measures necessary for the implementation of this instrument should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (¥). In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation, and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Given that this Regulation builds upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of Title IV of Part Three 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 Regulation whether it will implement it in its national law. As regards Iceland and Norway, this Regulation consti- tutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning 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 (°), which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point A, of Council Decision 1999/437[EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of that Agreement (*9). This Regulation constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (*!); the United Kingdom is therefore not taking part in its adoption and is not bound by it or subject to its application. L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 4. L 184,17.7.1999, p. 23. L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36. J L 176,10.7.1999, p. 31. J L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43.