1Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1131 of 18 May 2026 on repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341 on the suspension of certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council in respect of Ethiopia

Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1131 of 18 May 2026 on repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341 on the suspension of certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council in respect of Ethiopia THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) OJ L 243, 15.9.2009, p. 1., ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/810/oj. , and in particular Article 25a(6) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: (1) In 2022 cooperation with Ethiopia in the field of readmission was assessed as insufficient in accordance with Article 25a(2) of the Visa Code. Significant improvements in cooperation on all steps of the readmission process were needed, in particular to ensure that Ethiopia effectively cooperated with all Member States on identification and issuance of travel documents as well as on return operations in a timely and predictable manner. (2) Taking into account the steps taken by the Commission to improve the level of cooperation and the Union’s overall relations with Ethiopia, it was considered that action by the Union was necessary. (3) Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341 Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341 of 29 April 2024 on the suspension of certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council in respect of Ethiopia (OJ L, 2024/1341, 14.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/1341/oj). temporarily suspended the application of certain provisions of the Visa Code with respect to nationals of Ethiopia. The objective of the suspension was to encourage Ethiopia to undertake the necessary actions to improve cooperation on readmission matters. (4) The provisions temporarily suspended were those set out in Article 25a(5), point (a), of the Visa Code, namely: the possibility of waiving requirements with regard to the documentary evidence to be submitted by visa applicants referred to in Article 14(6) of the Visa Code; the possibility of waiving the visa fee for holders of diplomatic and service passports in accordance with Article 16(5), point (b), of the Visa Code; the general processing period of 15 calendar days referred to in Article 23(1) of the Visa Code, the suspension of which, as a consequence, also excluded the application of the rule allowing for the extension of that period up to a maximum of 45 calendar days only in individual cases, meaning that 45 calendar days became the standard processing period; and the issuing of multiple-entry visas in accordance with Article 24(2) and (2c) of the Visa Code. (5) The Commission’s continuous assessment of Ethiopia’s cooperation on readmission matters following the entry into force of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341 indicates that there has been substantial and sustained improvement in cooperation on readmission in particular in the identification of Ethiopian nationals illegally staying on the territory of the Member States, in the issuance of emergency travel documents and in the regular organisation of return operations. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to suspend the application of certain provisions of the Visa Code in respect of Ethiopia and Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341 should be repealed.

(6) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Given that this Decision builds upon the Schengen acquis, Denmark is to, in accordance with Article 4 of that Protocol, decide within a period of six months after the Council has decided on this Decision whether it will implement it in its national law. (7) This Decision constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland’s request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2002/192/oj). ; Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. (8) As regards Iceland and Norway, this Decision constitutes 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 latters’ association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/1999/439(1)/oj. which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Council Decision 1999/437/EC 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 (OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1999/437/oj). . (9) As regards Switzerland, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 52, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2008/178(1)/oj. which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2008/146/EC Council Decision 2008/146/EC of 28 January 2008 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2008/146/oj). . (10) As regards Liechtenstein, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis

OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 21, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/prot/2011/350/oj. which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2011/350/EU Council Decision 2011/350/EU of 7 March 2011 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, relating to the abolition of checks at internal borders and movement of persons (OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 19, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2011/350/oj). . (11) This Decision constitutes an act building upon, or otherwise related to, the Schengen acquis within the meaning of Article 3(2) of the 2003 Act of Accession, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341 is repealed.

Article 2

This Decision shall take effect on the date of its notification.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Republic of Croatia, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, Romania, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden. Done at Brussels, 18 May 2026. For the Council The President K. Kallas