L 321/26 Official Journal of the European Union 6.12.2003 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2003/1 IO/EC of 25 November 2003 on assistance in cases of transit for the purposes of removal by air THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 63(3)(b) thereof, Having regard to the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, Whereas: 1 () ) ) 0 Mutual assistance for the purposes of removal takes into consideration the common objective of ending the illegal residence of third-country nationals who are the subject of removal orders. Rules binding on all the Member States contribute furthermore to legal certainty and stan- dardisation of procedures. Removal by air is increasingly gaining in importance for the purpose of terminating the residence of third- country nationals. Despite the efforts of the Member States to give priority to using direct flights, it may be necessary, from an economic viewpoint or insufficient availability of direct flights, to use flight connections via airports of transit of other Member States. The Council recommendation of 22 December 1995 on concerted action and cooperation in carrying out removal measures (!) and the decision of the Executive Committee of 21 April 1998 on cooperation between the Contracting Parties in returning third-country nationals by air, (SCH/Com-ex (98) 10) (3 already address the need for cooperation between Member States in the field of removal by air of third-country nationals. The sovereignty of the Member States, particularly with regard to the use of direct force against third-country nationals resisting removal should remain unaffected. The Convention of 14 September 1963 on Offences and Certain Other Acts committed on board Aircraft (Tokyo Convention), particularly with regard to the on-board powers of the pilot responsible and matters of liability should remain unaffected. With regard to the briefing of airlines as to how to conduct unescorted and escorted removals, reference is made to Annex 9 to the Convention of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) of 7 December 1944. €5, 10.1.1996, p. 3. L 239, 22.9.2000, p. 193. ) ©) (10) () O 0) ] ] J Member States are to implement this Directive with due respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees of 28 July 1951, as amended by the New York Protocol of 31 January 1967 and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In accordance with the applic- able international obligations, transit by air should be neither requested nor granted if in the third country of destination or of transit the third-country national faces the threat of inhumane or humiliating treatment, torture or the death penalty, or if his life or liberty would be at risk by reason of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political conviction. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive 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 Euro- pean Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark is not participating in the adop- tion of this Directive, and is therefore not bound by it or subject to its application. Given that this Directive builds upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of Title IV of part Three of the Treaty establishing the European Community to the extent that it applies to third-country nationals who do not fulfil or who no longer fulfil the conditions for a short stay applicable within the territory of a Member State by virtue of the provisions of the Schengen acquis, in accordance with Article 5 of the abovementioned Protocol, Denmark is to decide within a period of six months after the Council has adopted this Directive, whether it will implement it in its national law or not. As regards the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway, this Directive constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded on 18 May 1999 by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of these two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (%), to the extent that it applies to third-country nationals who do not fulfil or who no longer fulfil the conditions for a short stay applicable within the territory of a Member State by virtue of the provisions of the Schengen acquis, which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point C, of Council Decision 1999/437EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the applica- tion of that Agreement (°). () OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36. L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.