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Measures to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens of the Union in third countries

TA-9-2024-0336 · P9_TA(2024)0336 · PE759.050

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 Sept 2026

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Parliament's amended version of a 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 extends consular protection to recognised refugees, stateless persons and other legally entitled persons, and sets a 48-hour limit for reaching a citizen's own embassy or consulate. It requires Union delegations to provide consular assistance, including Emergency Travel Documents, where they are the only representation or during crises. It strengthens crisis preparedness through joint consular contingency plans, early warning systems, training and information sharing, and requires Member States to inform citizens of their right to consular protection. It changes reimbursement rules so citizens may repay directly after three months, and adds data protection and complaint mechanism safeguards.

Key points

  1. Extends the directive's scope beyond Union citizens to recognised refugees, stateless persons and other persons legally entitled to a Member State's consular protection.
  2. Sets criteria for considering a citizen unrepresented, including that the time to safely reach or be reached by their own embassy or consulate must not exceed 48 hours.
  3. Requires Union delegations to provide consular assistance, including issuing Emergency Travel Documents, where they are the only representation or where Member States' capacity is insufficient during a crisis.
  4. Requires Member States to take an intersectional approach to vulnerable groups and those at risk of discrimination when providing consular protection.
  5. Adds court proceedings in urgent cases to the consular assistance tasks and requires Member States and the EEAS to set up joint consular contingency plans for each third country, updated annually or more often.
  6. Requires Member States and Union delegations to deploy Early Warning Systems using data analytics, risk assessments and intelligence sharing to detect potential crises.
  7. Requires Member States to take proactive measures so citizens can register their travels or residence in third countries, especially in countries not considered fully safe.
  8. Requires Member States to exchange travel advice information early, ensure consistency, and inform each other of increased security risks.
  9. Requires the EEAS to provide consular crisis preparedness, simulation and response training to Union officials and Member States' diplomatic and consular staff.
  10. Requires Member States to inform citizens of their right to consular protection, including by reproducing the first sentence of Article 23 TFEU on national passports and using digital notification systems.
  11. Allows unrepresented citizens to repay costs directly after three months and requires the Commission to adopt standard forms available in all Member State languages.
  12. Requires safeguards for personal data, including excluding certain data from transfers to third countries without explicit prior consent, and ensures access to complaint mechanisms and remedies.

Who is affected

  • Unrepresented EU citizens in third countries, who gain clearer eligibility criteria and a 48-hour rule for reaching their own embassy.
  • Recognised refugees, stateless persons and other legally entitled persons, who become entitled to consular protection under the same conditions as unrepresented citizens.
  • Member States, which must set up contingency plans, share travel advice, inform citizens and provide data in machine-readable format.
  • The EEAS and Union delegations, which must provide consular assistance, coordinate contingency plans, deploy early warning systems and provide training.
  • Vulnerable groups and persons at risk of discrimination, whose specific needs must be taken into account through an intersectional approach.

Figures and deadlines

  • 48 hours: maximum period for citizens to safely reach or be reached by their Member State's embassy or consulate.
  • three months: period after assistance is provided before the assisting Member State may ask for reimbursement.
  • once every six months: frequency for Member States to provide information to the EEAS and the Commission.
  • [five years after the transposition deadline of the amending Directive]: deadline for the Commission to evaluate the Directive.

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