Victor Negrescu (S&D), in writing. – For the efficient functioning of the border-free Schengen area, a common visa policy has been put in place in order to facilitate entry of citizens from non-EU countries while also strengthening the internal security. The current uniform format for visas dates back to 1995 and is an important element of the EU visa policy in the form of a sticker to be affixed to the travel document of non-EU nationals that intend to stay in one or more countries of the Schengen area for a period of no more than three months in total or will just transit through the international transit areas of airports of the Schengen countries. Authorities in several Member States have discovered forged visa stickers in the past years, while specialists have deemed the present Schengen visa sticker as not secure. The report will update the current uniform visa format in order for it meet technical standards with safeguards against counterfeiting and forgery by elaborating a new security concept and design. Each EU country must communicate the name of the only authority entitled to print this visa to the European Commission and the other EU countries.