This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

Member States shall apply this Regulation at the latest on 1 May 2009. Member States may use up their remaining stocks in consular offices not connected to the Visa Information System (VIS).

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Done at Brussels, 24 July 2008.

For the Council

The President

B. HORTEFEUX

( 1 ) OJ L 164, 14.7.1995, p. 1 .

( 2 ) OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 60 .

( 3 ) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36 .

( 4 ) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31 .

( 5 ) OJ L 368, 15.12.2004, p. 26 .

( 6 ) OJ L 370, 17.12.2004, p. 78 .

( 7 ) OJ L 83, 26.3.2008, p. 3 .

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 856/2008 of 24 July 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas as regards the numbering of visas ANNEX