Skip to content
DRAFT REPORT (COM(2023)0930 – C90015/2024 – 2023/0441(CNS))

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

LIBE-PR-759050

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · Rapporteur: Loránt Vincze

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 27 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This is the rapporteur's draft report on a proposed Council directive amending Directive (EU) 2015/637 on consular protection for unrepresented EU citizens and Directive (EU) 2019/997 on the EU Emergency Travel Document. It approves the Commission proposal as amended and calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly. The amendments set criteria for when a citizen counts as unrepresented, require Member States to inform citizens of consular rights, and require cooperation with EU delegations on early warning systems and data protection. They also require Member States to enable travel registration, exchange travel advice, report to the Commission and the High Representative every six months, use digital notification systems, and shorten the evaluation period to five years.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament approve the Commission proposal as amended, with amendments on unrepresented status criteria, information to citizens, data protection, early warning systems, travel registration, reporting frequency and evaluation timing.

Key points

  1. Approves the Commission proposal as amended and calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly.
  2. Lays down detailed criteria for assessing whether a Union citizen is unrepresented, including accessibility, proximity and safety, and a 48-hour threshold for reaching the embassy or consulate.
  3. Requires Member States to ensure citizens have easy access to up-to-date consular protection information and receive prompt notifications, particularly during crises.
  4. Requires Member States to raise awareness of consular protection rights, including in passports, travel advice and campaigns, and to cooperate with transport providers.
  5. Requires safeguards for special categories of personal data, including encryption and specific access rights, and internal policies to prevent unauthorised access.
  6. Requires the assisting Member State and the Member State of nationality to provide the Union delegation with all relevant information without delay.
  7. Requires Member States and Union delegations to collaborate on Early Warning Systems using data analytics, risk assessments and intelligence sharing.
  8. Requires Member States to take proactive measures to ensure citizens register their travels or residence in third countries, especially unsafe ones.
  9. Requires Member States to exchange information on travel advice changes early and to inform each other of increased security risks.
  10. Requires Member States to provide the Commission and the High Representative with information once every six months.
  11. Requires implementing digital technologies and automated notification systems, such as SMS, to provide contact details and crisis alerts.
  12. Requires ensuring compliance with registration and notification obligations, and shortens the evaluation period to five years after the transposition deadline.

Who is affected

  • Unrepresented EU citizens in third countries, who gain clearer criteria and better information on consular protection.
  • Member States, which must take measures on information, registration, travel advice and data protection.
  • EU delegations, which support Member States and collaborate on early warning systems.
  • The Commission and the High Representative, which receive information every six months and an evaluation report.

Figures and deadlines

  • 48 hours, the time within which a citizen should be able to reach their embassy or consulate.
  • Once every six months, the frequency for Member States to provide information to the Commission and the High Representative.
  • Five years after the transposition deadline, the earliest time for the Commission's evaluation.

Legal basis: Article 23(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.