(1)

Directive (EU) 2019/997 lays down rules on the conditions and procedure for unrepresented citizens in third countries to obtain an EU Emergency Travel Document (‘EU ETD’) and establishes a uniform format for such document.

(2)

In accordance with Article 8 of Directive (EU) 2019/997, EU ETDs are to consist of a uniform EU ETD form and a uniform EU ETD sticker. The form and sticker are to conform to the specifications set out in Annexes I and II to that Directive and the additional technical specifications established in accordance with Article 9 of that Directive. When the uniform EU ETD sticker is filled in, the sections set out in Annex II to Directive (EU) 2019/997 are to be completed and the machine-readable zone filled in, in line with the standards established by part 3 of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Document 9303.

(3)

Point 10 of Annex II to Directive (EU) 2019/997 provides that the uniform EU ETD sticker is to contain the relevant machine-readable information in line with ICAO Document 9303 to facilitate external border controls. The capital letters ‘AE’ are to be used as the first two characters of the machine-readable zone to designate the document as an EU Emergency Travel Document.

(4)

When Directive (EU) 2019/997 was adopted, ICAO standards did not contain specific rules on the first two characters to be used in the machine-readable zone of emergency travel documents.

(5)

In the context of its meeting of 26 February to 1 March 2024, the ICAO Facilitation Panel endorsed the use of the capital letters ‘PU’ in single-sheet emergency travel documents.

(6)

To ensure that the EU ETD remains aligned with technical progress in the international standards for such documents, it is necessary to replace the reference to the capital letters ‘AE’ as the first two characters of the machine-readable zone in Annex II to Directive (EU) 2019/997 with ‘PU’.

(7)

Directive (EU) 2019/997 should thus be amended accordingly.

(8)

In order to ensure that Directive (EU) 2019/997 is fully in line with technical progress from the date of the commencement of its application as determined by reference to the adoption of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2452 (2), the technical standard laid down in this Directive should be applicable from the date that Directive (EU) 2019/997 starts to apply,

‘10.

The uniform EU ETD sticker shall contain the relevant machine-readable information in line with ICAO Document 9303 to facilitate external border controls. The capital letters ‘PU’ shall be used as the first two characters of the machine-readable zone to designate the document as an EU Emergency Travel Document. The machine-readable zone shall contain a printed text in the visible background printing with the words ‘European Union’ in all the official languages of the Union. That text shall not affect the technical features of the machine-readable zone or its ability to be read.’.