FantasticSearch

1. Member States may cooperate with commercial intermediaries for the lodging of applications, except for the collection of biometric identifiers.

2. Such cooperation shall be based on the granting of an accreditation by Member States’ relevant authorities. The accreditation shall, in particular, be based on the verification of the following aspects:

(a) the current status of the commercial intermediary: current licence, the commercial register, contracts with banks;

(b) existing contracts with commercial partners based in the Member States offering accommodation and other package tour services;

(c) contracts with transport companies, which must include an outward journey, as well as a guaranteed and fixed return journey.

3. Accredited commercial intermediaries shall be monitored regularly by spot checks involving face-to-face or telephone interviews with applicants, the verification of trips and accommodation, and wherever deemed necessary, the verification of the documents relating to group return.

4. Within local Schengen cooperation, information shall be exchanged on the performance of the accredited commercial intermediaries concerning irregularities detected and refusal of applications submitted by commercial intermediaries, and on detected forms of travel document fraud and failure to carry out scheduled trips.

5. Within local Schengen cooperation, lists shall be exchanged of commercial intermediaries to which accreditation has been given by each consulate and from which accreditation has been withdrawn, together with the reasons for any such withdrawal. Each consulate and the central authorities shall make sure that the public is informed of the list of accredited commercial intermediaries with which they cooperate, where relevant.