A G R E E M E N T
between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic on the Mutual Representation by Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts of Their States in the Visa Procedure
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the “Contracting Parties”);
recalling the trustful consular cooperation between the Contracting Parties;
acknowledging the fact that the simplification of visa issuance is in the common interest of both States;
in view of achievements and proposals of the European Union concerning cooperation in the field of visa issuance;
have agreed as follows:
Article 1
(1) In line with the provisions of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties may represent each other in processing visa applications and issuing uniform visas (airport transit visas, short-stay visas) in accordance with the provisions of the 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), with this Agreement, as well as with the implementing agreements concluded according to Article 4 hereof.
(2) According to the implementing agreements, mutual representation may be reduced to one or several stages of the visa issuing procedure, namely providing information on visa applications, arranging appointments, conducting interviews, receiving and sending applications and supporting documents, recording data – including biometric data – and collecting administrative fees.
(3) The Contracting Parties may assist each other in the collection of biometric data to be used in the submission of visa applications. Detailed rules for this type of co-operation shall be regulated in the implementing agreements.
(4) Acting under Paragraphs (1)-(3), the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the States of the Contracting Parties shall render each other all necessary assistance.
(5) In a country where only one of the States of the Contracting Parties has a mission, that mission shall provide assistance to the mission of the State of the other Contracting Party accredited to that country in accordance with the implementing agreements.
Article 2
Acting under Article 1 of this Agreement, the relevant legal norms of the European Union shall apply, including Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, as well as the national legal norms of the States of the Contracting Parties.
Article 3
Acting under Article 1 of this Agreement, the diplomatic missions or consular posts of the States of the Contracting Parties shall act as diligently as if processing visas or collecting data on their own behalf. However, there is no liability of one Contracting Party for activities performed on behalf of the other Contracting Party.
Article 4
The Contracting Parties shall conclude implementing agreements by an exchange of notes which designate the diplomatic mission and consular post to which this Agreement shall be applied.
Article 5
This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth (30) day following the date of its signing.
Article 6
The Contracting Parties may suspend the application of this Agreement at any time, in whole or in part. The Contracting Parties shall notify each other of the starting and closing dates of the suspension through diplomatic channels, and such suspension shall become effective on the day following the date of the receipt of such written notification of suspension by the other Contracting Party.
Article 7
This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of time. It may be terminated at any time by a notification through diplomatic channels by either Contracting Party. In this case, the Agreement shall cease to be effective on the ninetieth (90) day following the date of the receipt of such written notification of termination by the other Contracting Party.
Done in Ljubljana on 15 October 2010 in two original copies, each in the Slovenian, Slovak and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In cases of difference in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
For the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Slovenia
Andraž Zidar (s)
For the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
of the Slovak Republic
Marianna Oravcová (s)