ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 islands have the necessary infrastructure and qualified staff to carry out the necessary border controls at entry-exit 94 and to establish simplified procedures for entry visa at the arriving point. The European Commission refused to consent to extend the implementation of a pilot program at the country's airports95. Regarding visa policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid throughout 2012 efforts to simplify and accelerate procedures primarily in order to facilitate the arrival of visitors. By a circular addressed in mid-March 2012 to all Greek diplomatic and consular representations abroad, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stavros Dimas, called for the maximum possible assistance to third countries’ nationals wishing to visit our country, by providing rapid, efficient and friendly visa procedures. In late December 2012, Greece ranked in the top positions of the EU in terms of speed of processing requests for visas96. The information system on visas (VIS) is an information exchange network for short stay visas which enable the competent authorities of the Schengen States to process data on visa applications and issue, refuse, revoke or extend a visa. The VIS was successfully launched on October 11, 2011 covering the Consular Authorities of member states in North Africa; on May 10, 2012 it was extended to the Consular Authorities of member states in the Middle East and on October 2, 2012 to those of the Persian Gulf. Greece is implementing the new system in all of its Consular Authorities in those areas, except Libya and Iraq. In order to meet the increased demand for visas in some countries Greece has launched Visa Centers, in collaboration with external providers in Russia (15) China (1) India (12), Kazakhstan (1) Sri Lanka (1), Nepal (1), Turkey (6), while the establishment of new such centers in other geographical areas is being promoted. 3.7.2 Schengen Governance According the description of the semi-annual report of the European Commission of May 2012 on the functioning of the Schengen area for the period from 1 November 2011 until 30 April 2012, during the period 2010201197 serious shortcomings were identified in the proper implementation of the Schengen acquis in Greece. These shortcomings concerned the control of the external land, air and sea borders. To remedy these, Greece drafted a 94 http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/67715b2c-ec81-4f0c-ad6a-476a34d732bd/7804704.pdf 95 http://www.mfa.gr/epikairotita/eidiseis-anakoinoseis/semeia-apanteses-uphupourgou-exoterikonkourkoula-se-epikaire-erotese-tou-bouleutou-pasok-ioanne-dribelegka-me-thema-aplopoiese-diadikasioneisodou-gia-brakheies-touristikes-episkepseis-apo-polites-triton-khoron-me-ekdose-theoreses-stoaerodromio-ma.html 96 http://www.mfa.gr/epikairotita/eidiseis-anakoinoseis/semeia-apanteses-uphupourgou-exoterikonkourkoula-se-epikaire-erotese-tou-bouleutou-pasok-ioanne-dribelegka-me-thema-aplopoiese-diadikasioneisodou-gia-brakheies-touristikes-episkepseis-apo-polites-triton-khoron-me-ekdose-theoreses-stoaerodromio-ma.html 97 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Interim report on the functioning of the Schengen area for the period from 1 November 2011 to 30 April 2012, COM (2012) 230 final, 16.5.2012. 38