In Annex 12 to the Common Consular Instructions and in Annex 14a to the Common Manual, point II of the ‘Rules’ shall be replaced by the following:‘II.1.In individual cases, the amount of the fee to be charged may be waived or reduced in accordance with national law when this measure serves to promote cultural interests as well as interests in the field of foreign policy, development policy, other areas of vital public interest or for humanitarian reasons.II.2.The fee to be charged is waived for visa applicants belonging to one of the following categories:
—children under six years,
—school pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training, and
—researchers from third countries travelling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research as defined in the Recommendation 2005/761/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005 to facilitate the issue by the Member States of uniform short-stay visas for researchers from third countries travelling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific researchnote.
II.3.A fee reduction or waiver for nationals of a third country may also be the result of a visa facilitation agreement concluded between the European Community and that third country consistent with the Community's overall approach to visa facilitation agreements.II.4.Until 1 January 2008, this Decision shall not affect the fee to be charged to nationals of third countries in respect of which the Council will have given the Commission, by 1 January 2007, a mandate to negotiate a visa facilitation agreement.