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From · report parliamentary committee draft · 2026-05-22 LIBE-PR-789005 on the draft for a Council directive amending Directive (EU) 2015/637 on the coordination and cooperation measures to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens of the Union in third countries and Directive (EU) 2019/997 establishing an EU Emergency Travel Document
To · report parliamentary committee draft · 2024-03-05 LIBE-PR-759050 on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive (EU) 2015/637 on the coordination and cooperation measures to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens of the Union in third countries and Directive (EU) 2019/997 establishing an EU Emergency Travel Document
+51 added · −182 removed · 24 modified paragraphs

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the draftproposal for a Council directive amending Directive (EU) 2015/637 on the coordination and cooperation measures to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens of the Union in third countries and Directive (EU) 2019/997 establishing an EU Emergency Travel Document

(COM(2023)0930 – C100027/2026C90015/2024 – 2023/0441(CNS))

(Special legislative procedure – consultation)

– having regard to the CouncilCommission draftproposal (05760/2026),to the Council (COM(2023)0930),

– having regard to Article 23(2)23 paragraph 2 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C100027/2026),(C90015/2024),

– having regard to Rule 8482 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinionopinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairsand the Committee on Legal Affairs,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A100000/2026),(A90000/2024),

1. Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

Proposal for a directive

Recital 24

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(2) Crises resulting in requests for consular protection by unrepresented citizens are increasing in frequency and scale. Drawing lessons from those experiences, and in order to simplify procedures for unrepresented citizens and consular authorities, the rules and procedures of Directive (EU) 2015/637 should be updated and streamlined so as to improve the effectiveness of the provision of consular protection to unrepresented citizens of the Union, in particular in crisis situations. Best use should be made of the available resources at Member State and Union level, both locally in third countries and at capital level.

(4) To improve legal certainty for consular authorities and citizens, it is appropriate to lay down more detailed criteria that aid in the assessment whether a Union citizen is to be considered as unrepresented and thus eligible to receive consular protection from the Member State whose consular authorities have been approached. Those criteria should be sufficiently flexible and applied in light of local circumstances, such as ease of travel or security situation in the third country concerned. In this context, accessibility and proximity should remain important considerations.

(2) Crises of all types resulting in requests for consular protection by unrepresented citizens are increasing in frequency and scale, directly affecting citizens of the Union living permanently or temporarily present abroad.

(4) To improve legal certainty for consular authorities and citizens, it is appropriate to lay down more detailed criteria that aid in the assessment whether a Union citizen is to be considered as unrepresented and thus eligible to receive consular protection from the Member State whose consular authorities have been approached. Those criteria should be sufficiently flexible and applied in light of local circumstances, such as ease of travel or security situation in the third country concerned. In this context, accessibility proximity and safety should remain important considerations.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 2 a (new)

Recital 5

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(2a) Drawing on recent examples of successful management of crises and emergencies by the Member States, represented or not, with the support of Union delegations, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and other bodies of the Union, the Directive (EU) 2015/637 must be updated in order to reflect and give the necessary legal basis to the coordination tools that have been effectively deployed since its entry into force and the needs that have arisen since.

(5) As first criterion, consular authorities should take into account the difficulty for citizens to safely reach or be reached by the embassy or consulate of their Member State of nationality within a reasonable period of time, taking into account the nature and urgency of the assistance requested and the means, notably financial resources, available to them. For example, the need for an EU Emergency Travel Document as a result of the loss of travel documents should, in principle, result in the citizen being considered as unrepresented if reaching the embassy or consulate of his or her Member State of nationality would require overnight or air travel, as he or she cannot be expected to travel under such circumstances..

(5) As first criterion, consular authorities should take into account the difficulty for citizens to safely reach or be reached by the embassy or consulate of their Member State of nationality within 48 hours.For example, the need for an EU Emergency Travel Document as a result of the loss of travel documents should result in the citizen being considered as unrepresented if reaching the embassy or consulate of his or her Member State of nationality would require overnight or air travel, as he or she cannot be expected to travel under such circumstances.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 230 ba (new)

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(2b) With the objective to simplify procedures for unrepresented citizens and consular authorities, to improve the effectiveness of the provision of consular protection, in particular in crisis situations, and to reinforce the European Union’s response capacities, the rules and procedures of Directive (EU) 2015/637 should also be updated and streamlined. Best use should be made of the available resources at Member State and Union level, both locally in third countries and at capital level.

(30a) Member States should ensure that citizens have easy access to up-to date information regarding consular protection. In this regard, EU citizens should receive prompt notifications regarding their rights and procedures for exercising them while in third countries, particularly during crisis situations.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 3 a (new)

Recital 31

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(3a) Whether as a result of the execution of such arrangements and of joint preparedness frameworks, or not, Member States and Union delegations, acting upon request and on behalf of a Member State, should endeavour to automate as much as possible the identification of unrepresented citizens, through the use of criteria that will ensure that the length of the identification process never stands in the way of providing protection. A 48h period for a citizen to safely reach or be reached by the embassy or consulate of their Member State of nationality, or less if the local circumstances make this contact unsafe or impossible for the citizen, should hence be applied to efficiently identify unrepresented citizens of the Union.

(31) Member States should take additional measures to further contribute to raising Union citizen’s awareness of their right to consular protection, also taking into account the specific needs of persons with disabilities. Given the limited costs it entails for the Member States, one possible way to do so would be to reproduce the wording of Article 23 TFEU in passports issued by Member States as a way to enhance citizens’ awareness of the right to protection by diplomatic and consular authorities, as already recommended by Commission Recommendation C(2007) 5841 . Member States could also feature information on the right to consular protection enjoyed by unrepresented citizens in travel advice and campaigns relating to consular assistance. They could also cooperate with passenger transport service providers and transport hubs offering travel to third countries, for example by inviting them to add relevant information on the right to consular protection to the information materials made available to customers..

(31) Member States should take additional measures to further contribute to raising Union citizen’s awareness of their right to consular protection, also taking into account the specific needs of persons with disabilities. Given the limited costs it entails for the Member States, one possible way to do so would be to reproduce the wording of Article 23 TFEU in passports issued by Member States as a way to enhance citizens’ awareness of the right to protection by diplomatic and consular authorities, as already recommended by Commission Recommendation C(2007) 5841 . Member States should also feature information on the right to consular protection enjoyed by unrepresented citizens in travel advice and campaigns relating to consular assistance. They could also cooperate with passenger transport service providers and transport hubs offering travel to third countries, for example by inviting them to add relevant information on the right to consular protection to the information materials made available to customers.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 841

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(8) To ensure the effectiveness of the right to consular protection set out in Article 20(2), point (c), TFEU, and notably to ensure preparedness regarding possible consular crises requiring the provision of assistance to unrepresented citizens, local consular cooperation among Member States in third countries, supported by Union delegations, should include exchanges on matters relevant to such citizens, including the establishment of joint consular contingency frameworks and the organisation of consular exercises. In this context, it can be particularly relevant for the consular authorities of unrepresented Member States to be included in such local consular cooperation when coordinating on consular crisis preparedness and response. Such exchanges could take place in the context of existing local consular cooperation structures alongside exchanges among Member States, in the exercise of their competence, on other consular or local matters.

(41) When processing such special categories of personal data, the competent authorities of the Member States and Union institutions and bodies should ensure suitable and specific measures to safeguard data subjects’ interests. This should include, where possible, encrypting such personal data and specific attribution of access rights for personnel who have access to the specified types of special categories of personal data.

(8) To ensure the effectiveness of the right to consular protection set out in Article 20(2), point (c), TFEU, and notably to ensure preparedness regarding possible consular crises requiring the provision of assistance to unrepresented citizens, local consular cooperation among Member States in third countries, supported by Union delegations, should include exchanges on matters relevant to such citizens, including the establishment of joint consular contingency frameworks. Such frameworks should always include operational mechanisms or arrangements and be tested at least on an annual basis by organising consular exercises. In this context, it can be particularly relevant for the consular authorities of unrepresented Member States to be included in such local consular cooperation when coordinating on consular crisis preparedness and response. Such exchanges could take place in the context of existing local consular cooperation structures alongside exchanges among Member States, in the exercise of their competence, on other consular or local matters.

(41) When processing such special categories of personal data, the competent authorities of the Member States and Union institutions and bodies should ensure suitable and specific measures to safeguard data subjects’ interests and rights. This should include, where possible, encrypting such personal data and specific attribution of access rights for personnel who have access to the specified types of special categories of personal data.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 12

Article 11 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(12) In the context of local consular cooperation, joint consular contingency frameworks should be reviewed regularly, and updated if necessary, in particular based on the findings of consular exercises. Joint consular contingency frameworks could also contain specific arrangements relating to the roles of Member States, such as the decision of a group of Member States to strengthen their cooperation for crisis preparedness or response purposes to ensure the effective coordination of consular assistance. At the same time, joint consular contingency frameworks should not be understood as replacing existing national crisis plans of Member States or affecting their responsibility to provide consular assistance to their own nationals.

2. Union delegations shall support Member States in the provision of consular protection to unrepresented citizens in accordance with Article 5(10) of Decision 2010/427/EU. Such support may include carrying out, upon request by and on behalf of Member States, specific consular assistance tasks. The assisting Member State and the Member State of nationality shall provide the Union delegation with all the relevant information in the case concerned.

(12) In the context of local consular cooperation, joint consular contingency frameworks should be reviewed as often as the local circumstances require and, in any case, at least on an annual basis based on the findings of the yearly consular exercises. Joint consular contingency frameworks could also contain specific arrangements relating to the roles of Member States, such as the decision of a group of Member States to strengthen their cooperation for crisis preparedness or response purposes to ensure the effective coordination of consular assistance. At the same time, joint consular contingency frameworks should not be understood as replacing existing national crisis plans of Member States or affecting their responsibility to provide consular assistance to their own nationals.

2. Union delegations shall support Member States in the provision of consular protection to unrepresented citizens in accordance with Article 5(10) of Decision 2010/427/EU. Such support may include carrying out, upon request by and on behalf of Member States, specific consular assistance tasks. The assisting Member State and the Member State of nationality shall provide without delay the Union delegation with all the relevant information in the case concerned..

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 13

Article 13 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(13) Travel advice, that is, information issued by Member States about the relative safety of travelling to specific third countries, enables travellers to make an informed decision about a particular travel destination, including third countries where their Member State of nationality is not represented. While the issuance of travel advice is the responsibility of Member States, it is useful that they exchange information on that topic, notably in the context of crisis situations, to improve the information provided to unrepresented citizens. For this purpose, the EEAS should support exchanges of such information between Member States, notably through its secure internet site (Consular OnLine, or ‘CoOL’). Such exchanges could be based on a common structure of the levels of risk indicated in travel advice.

3a. Member States and Union delegations shall collaborate in the deployment of Early Warning Systems to enable the timely detection of potential crises or hazards, such as natural disasters, political unrest, or health emergencies, in the third country concerned. These systems shall utilize data analytics, risk assessments, and intelligence sharing to provide early indicators of emerging threats, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of crisis preparedness and response efforts.

(13) Travel advice, that is, information issued by Member States about the relative safety of travelling to specific third countries, enables travellers to make an informed decision about a particular travel destination, including third countries where their Member State of nationality is not represented. In order to improve the information provided to unrepresented citizens and while the issuance of travel advice is the responsibility of Member States, it is useful that they exchange up-to-date information and collectively seek to deliver consistent information across the existing means of communication, notably in the context of crisis situations. Citizens can also be offered by their Member State of nationality the possibility to register their travels to or residence in third countries. For this purpose, the EEAS should support exchanges of such information between Member States, notably through its secure IT systems. Such exchanges could be based on a common structure of the levels of risk indicated in travel advice.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 21a

Article 13 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(21a) Consular protection granted to an unrepresented citizen can, in certain cases, such as arrest, detention, being a victim of serious crime, a serious accident or serious illness, involve unusually high travel costs, accommodation costs or translation costs for the diplomatic or consular authorities of the assisting Member State. These costs may nevertheless be, depending on the circumstances, essential and justified to adequately respond to the individual case. The unrepresented citizen’s Member State of nationality should, in the context of the consultation provided for in the Directive, be informed of such possible costs. The assisting Member State should be able to seek reimbursement of such unusually high costs from the unrepresented citizen’s Member State of nationality including when the situation prevented the unrepresented citizen from signing an undertaking to repay. The Member State of nationality of the citizen should reimburse the assisting Member State for the costs incurred. The assisting Member State cannot request the Member State of nationality of the unrepresented citizen to reimburse such costs which nationals of the assisting Member State would not be required to repay in the same situation. Unrepresented citizens’ Member States of nationality cannot, according to the non-discrimination principle, ask their citizens to reimburse such costs which nationals of the assisting Member State would not be required to repay.

4. Member States shall, in accordance with national law, provide their citizens with the possibility to register with or inform competent national authorities, by appropriate means and tools, of their travels to or residence in third countries.

(21a) Consular protection granted to an unrepresented citizen can, in certain cases, such as arrest, detention, being a victim of serious crime, a serious accident, serious illness or, in case of an emergency, being in need of relief and repatriation, involve unusually high travel costs, accommodation costs or translation costs for the diplomatic or consular authorities of the assisting Member State. These costs may nevertheless be, depending on the circumstances, essential and justified to adequately respond to the individual case. The unrepresented citizen’s Member State of nationality should, in the context of the consultation provided for in the Directive, be informed of such possible costs. The assisting Member State should be able to seek reimbursement of such unusually high costs from the unrepresented citizen’s Member State of nationality including when the situation prevented the unrepresented citizen from signing an undertaking to repay. The Member State of nationality of the citizen should reimburse the assisting Member State for the costs incurred. The assisting Member State cannot request the Member State of nationality of the unrepresented citizen to reimburse such costs which nationals of the assisting Member State would not be required to repay in the same situation. Unrepresented citizens’ Member States of nationality cannot, according to the non-discrimination principle, ask their citizens to reimburse such costs which nationals of the assisting Member State would not be required to repay.

4. Member States shall, in accordance with national law, take proactive measures in order to ensure that their citizens register with or inform competent national authorities, by appropriate means and tools, of their travels to or residence in third countries, in particular when the thirds countries in question are not considered fully safe.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 28

Article 13 – paragraph 5

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(28) Given that consular tasks can vary significantly, covering sensitive situations such as arrest, incarceration, injury or being a victim of a crime, it is necessary to ensure that competent authorities of the Member States and relevant Union institutions and bodies have access to and can exchange all the necessary information, including personal data, that is required to provide consular protection to Union citizens. In that context, the competent authorities of the Member States and, where they provide support, Union institutions and bodies should be entitled to process special categories of personal data, where doing so is strictly necessary to provide consular protection to the person concerned. This should cover health data, which may need to be processed in order to provide consular protection to an unrepresented citizen who has been seriously injured or has fallen seriously ill. Persons’ facial images need to be processed notably in cases where an EU Emergency Travel Document is to be issued. Providing assistance to an unrepresented citizen, including in the defence of legal claims, may also exceptionally require the processing of personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, or data concerning sexual orientation. In certain cases, providing consular assistance may also require the processing of genetic data, such as when providing assistance in the context of serious accidents requiring the unique identification of an incapacitated person or in the context of establishing paternity. Finally, consular cases linked to arrest or detention may likely require the competent authorities to process personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences.

5. Member States shall exchange information on changes to their travel advice to citizens at an early stage, in particular in the context of crisis situations, and shall seek to ensure consistency in the level of travel advice given.’;

(28) Given that consular tasks can vary significantly in scope according to the local context or individual needs of citizens of the Union, covering sensitive situations such as arrest, incarceration, injury or being a victim of a crime, it is necessary to ensure that the competent authorities of the Member States and the relevant Union institutions and bodies have access to and can process and exchange special categories of personal data and exchange all the necessary information, where doing so is strictly necessary to provide consular protection to the person concerned and is of public interest or of vital interest to the data subject as specified in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2016/697 and Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. Persons’ facial images will need to be processed notably in cases where an EU Emergency Travel Document is to be issued. Finally, consular cases linked to arrest or detention may require the competent authorities to process personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences.

5. Member States shall exchange information on changes to their travel advice to citizens at an early stage, in particular in the context of crisis situations, and shall seek to ensure consistency in the level of travel advice given.’ Member States should always inform each-other every time they become aware of increased security risks.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 30

Article 13b – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(30) Where the provision of consular protection requires the transfer of personal data of Union citizens to third countries or international organisations, such as the United Nations, collaborating in the crisis response measures, such transfers should comply with Chapter V of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Chapter V of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

1. At least once per year, Member States shall provide the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy with the following information:

(30) The transfer of personal data of Union citizens to third countries or international organisations, such as the United Nations, should be exercised with the greatest caution and only if such collaboration is of direct importance to the provision of consular protection. Such transfers should always comply with Chapter V of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Chapter V of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

1. Once every six months, Member States shall provide the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy with the following information:

(a) up-to-date lists of contacts for their consular networks;

(a) up-to-date lists of contacts for their consular networks;

(b) lists of third countries where they are represented by another Member State or where they represent another Member State on a permanent basis in accordance with Article 7(2);

(b) lists of third countries where they are represented by another Member State or where they represent another Member State on a permanent basis in accordance with Article 7(2);

(c) practical arrangements concluded pursuant to Article 7(2);

(c) practical arrangements concluded pursuant to Article 7(2);

(d) the number of unrepresented citizens having been provided consular protection referred to in Article 2 during the previous year, broken down by nationality and third country;

(d) the number of unrepresented citizens having been provided consular protection referred to in Article 2 during the previous year, broken down by nationality and third country;

(e) the number of reimbursement requests submitted and received pursuant to Articles 14 and 15 during the previous year.

(e) the number of reimbursement requests submitted and received pursuant to Articles 14 and 15 during the previous year.

Where a Member State has decided, pursuant to Article 2(2), to apply this Directive to the consular protection provided by honorary consuls, the list referred to in point (a) shall include honorary consuls as well as information on the extent to which honorary consuls are competent to provide protection in a given case, in particular whether they are empowered to issue EU Emergency Travel Documents.

Where a Member State has decided, pursuant to Article 2(2), to apply this Directive to the consular protection provided by honorary consuls, the list referred to in point (a) shall include honorary consuls as well as information on the extent to which honorary consuls are competent to provide protection in a given case, in particular whether they are empowered to issue EU Emergency Travel Documents.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Recital 31

Article 13c – paragraph 1 – point d(new)

Text proposed by the CouncilCommission

Amendment

(31) Personal data collected by assisting Member States, the Member States of nationality or Union institutions and bodies should be retained only for as long as necessary to carry out the tasks provided for by this Directive. Where the personal data concerns the contact details of public officials such as honorary consuls, the personal data should be retained for as long as the person remains the relevant contact. The erasure of personal data of applicants should not affect Member States’ abilities to monitor the application of this Directive.

(d) implementing digital technologies and automated notification systems, such as SMS via telephone networks, to provide EU citizens with essential contact details for consular protection upon entering a third country, as well as alert messages during crisis situations.

(31) Personal data collected by assisting Member States, the Member States of nationality or Union institutions and bodies should be retained only for as long as necessary to carry out the tasks provided for by this Directive. In particular, unless required to be retained in order to support citizens’ legal claims or handle the posterior reimbursements of the consular protection provided, personal data should not be kept longer than what was needed to provide the different kinds of assistance. Where the personal data concerns the contact details of public officials such as honorary consuls, the personal data should be retained for as long as the person remains the relevant contact. The erasure of personal data of applicants should not affect Member States’ abilities to monitor the application of this Directive.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Article 116a – paragraph 1 – point 1g(new)

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Text proposed by the Commission

Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

2a. Where a crisis situation exists and where there exists a period of more than 48 hours for citizens to safely reach or be reached by the embassy or consulate of their Member State of nationality, the citizens shall be considered unrepresented.

(g) ensure compliance with the provisions of Article 13(4) regarding the registration and notification of citizens' travels to or residence in third countries.

Depending on the particularities of each assistance request and if the local circumstances pose a danger or make it impossible for the citizens to safely reach or be reached by the embassy or consulate of their Member State of nationality, the period of 48 hours shall not apply and the citizens shall be considered unrepresented.

Or. en

Justification

Where a crisis situation exists, the process leading to the recognition of an EU citizen as unrepresented should be kept as simple as possible : this general criteria will allow Member States and EU delegations to focus on providing protection to EU citizens by making the identification process to establish a list quasi-automatic.

Amendment 13

Proposal for a directive

Article 116a – paragraph 1 – point 46

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Text proposed by the Commission

Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

2a. The EEAS and Union Delegations shall be allocated the necessary financial and human resources to cover the overhead and additional horizontal administrative workload.

6. When processing the personal data referred to in paragraph 5, the competent authorities of the Member States and Union institutions and bodies shall ensure suitable and specific measures to safeguard data subjects’ interests. They shall also introduce internal policies and undertake necessary technical and organisational measures to prevent unauthorised access and transmission of such personal data.

6. When processing the personal data referred to in paragraph 5, the competent authorities of the Member States and Union institutions and bodies shall ensure suitable and specific measures to safeguard data subjects’ interests and rights. They shall also introduce internal policies and undertake necessary technical and organisational measures to prevent unauthorised access and transmission of such personal data.

Or. en

Proposal for a directive

Article 116b – paragraph 1 – point 410

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Text proposed by the Commission

Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

(d) the organisation of joint consular exercises;

(d) the organisation of joint consular exercises at least on an annual basis or as often as necessary;

Or. en

Amendment 15

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

(ca) arrangements pertaining to the support to be provided to citizens facing court proceedings, in urgent cases requiring immediate attention.

Or. en

Amendment 16

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 13 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

The joint contingency framework shall be updated when necessary in order to facilitate the protection of unrepresented Union citizens.

The joint contingency framework shall be updated annually, or as often as necessary in light of the local circumstances, in order to facilitate the protection of unrepresented Union citizens.

Or. en

Amendment 17

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 13 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

In third countries where no Union delegation is present, the coordination shall be done by the Chair of the local consular cooperation agreed pursuant to Article 12(3), supported by the EEAS.

In third countries where no Union delegation is present, the coordination shall be done by the Chair of the local consular cooperation agreed pursuant to Article 12(2), supported by the EEAS.

Or. en

Amendment 18

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 13 – paragraph 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

4a. Member States may, in accordance with their national laws, provide their citizens with the possibility to register with or to inform competent national authorities, by appropriate means and tools, of their travels to or residence in third countries.

Or. en

Amendment 19

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 13 – paragraph 5

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

5. The EEAS shall support the exchange of information between Member States on crisis situations, including changes to their travel advice to citizens.;

5. The EEAS shall support the exchange of information between Member States on crisis situations, including the setting up of early detection and alert mechanisms on developing situations.;

Or. en

Amendment 20

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 13 – paragraph 5 a (new)

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

5a. The EEAS shall, in close cooperation with Member States, provide consular crisis preparedness and response training to Union officials.

Or. en

Amendment 21

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 13 a – paragraph 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

4a. At all stages of crisis situations, Member States shall exchange information relating to their travel advice to citizens and shall coordinate to ensure its consistency, using all appropriate means and tools. The EEAS shall support the Member States in the coordination of changes to their travel advice to citizens.

Or. en

Amendment 22

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 13 c – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

1. Member States shall take appropriate measures to inform their citizens of their right set out in Article 20(2), point (c), TFEU.

1. Member States shall take appropriate and proactive measures to inform their citizens of their right set out in Article 20(2), point (c), TFEU, in particular by:

a) including information on the right to consular protection in travel advice and campaigns relating to consular protection;

b) cooperating on information campaigns with passenger transport service providers and transport hubs offering travel to third countries;

c) developing digital platforms or mobile applications through which EU citizens have quick and easy access to consular protection information and contact channels at any time;

d) developing automatic notification systems to provide all EU citizens with contextualised information on their rights and how to exercise them upon arrival to third countries, as well as real-time warning messages and recommendations in the event of a crisis for the citizens who have registered in accordance with Article 13(4a) of this Directive.

Or. en

Amendment 23

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 14 – paragraph 5

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

When the consular protection provided to an unrepresented citizen in the situations referred to in Article 9, points (a) to (c), involves unusually high but essential and justified costs related to travel, accommodation or translation for the diplomatic or consular authorities, the assisting Member State shall, in the context of the consultation provided for in Article 10(2), inform the Member State of nationality of the unrepresented citizen of such possible costs and may, within 12 months of the assistance provided, ask for their reimbursement directly from the Member State of nationality.

When the consular protection provided to an unrepresented citizen in the situations referred to in Article 9, points (a) to (c) and (e), involves unusually high but essential and justified costs related to travel, accommodation or translation for the diplomatic or consular authorities, the assisting Member State shall, in the context of the consultation provided for in Article 10(2), inform the Member State of nationality of the unrepresented citizen of such possible costs and may, within 12 months of the assistance provided, ask for their reimbursement directly from the Member State of nationality.

Or. en

Amendment 24

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 16a – paragraph 5

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

5. The competent authorities of the Member States and Union institutions and bodies may process personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health, data concerning sex life or sexual orientation or personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences of a person in need of consular protection where doing so is strictly necessary to be able to carry out the tasks referred to in Article 9, Article 10, Article 11 and Article 13a in relation to that person.

5. The competent authorities of the Member States are empowered to process the special categories of personal data as defined by and within the remits of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as well as, if necessary, personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences of a person in need of consular protection, where doing so is strictly necessary to be able to carry out the tasks referred to in Article 9, Article 10, Article 11 and Article 13a in relation to that person.

Or. en

Amendment 25

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 16a – paragraph 5 a (new)

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

5a. Union institutions and bodies are empowered to process the special categories of personal data as defined by and within the remits of Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as well as, if necessary, personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences of a person in need of consular protection, where doing so is strictly necessary to be able to carry out the tasks referred to in Article 9, Article 10, Article 11 and Article 13a in relation to that person.

Or. en

Amendment 26

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 16a – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

For the purposes of this Directive, the competent authorities of the Member States shall transfer personal data to a third country or international organisation only to carry out the tasks referred to in Article 9, Article 10 and Article 13a and in accordance with Chapter V of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

For the purposes of this Directive, the competent authorities of the Member States shall transfer personal data to a third country or international organisation only if it is of direct importance to their capacity to carry out the tasks referred to in Article 9, Article 10 and Article 13a and in accordance with Chapter V of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

Or. en

Amendment 27

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 16a – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

For the purposes of this Directive, Union institutions and bodies shall transfer personal data to a third country or international organisation only to carry out the tasks referred to in Article 10(1), Article 11 and Article 13a and in accordance with Chapter V of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

For the purposes of this Directive, Union institutions and bodies shall transfer personal data to a third country or international organisation only if it is of direct importance to their capacity to carry out the tasks referred to in Article 10(1), Article 11 and Article 13a and in accordance with Chapter V of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

Or. en

Amendment 28

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10

Directive (EU) 2015/637

Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Council

Amendment

No sooner than [eight years after the transposition deadline of the amending Directive], the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of this Directive and present a report on the main findings to the European Parliament and the Council.

(10) in Article 19, the following paragraph 3 is added:

By [five years after the transposition deadline of the amending Directive], the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of this Directive and present a report on the main findings to the European Parliament and the Council. Further evaluations shall be carried out thereafter at appropriate intervals with a view to ensuring that this Directive remains up to date and addresses emerging needs and evolving situations.

(10) in Article 19, the following paragraph 3 is added:

‘3. No sooner than [eight years after the transposition deadline of the amending Directive], the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of this Directive and present a report on the main findings to the European Parliament and the Council.

‘3. No sooner than [five years after the transposition deadline of the amending Directive], the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of this Directive and present a report on the main findings to the European Parliament and the Council.

Member States shall provide the Commission with the information necessary for the preparation of that report.’;

Member States shall provide the Commission with the information necessary for the preparation of that report.’;

Or. en