Yesterday the Commission presented the 2022 report on the Schengen situation. This is the first time the Commission has presented this report since last year ‘s Schengen strategy. This report is part of the Commission’s initiative to strengthen the Schengen governance through an annual reporting process to present the Schengen situation, which will identify next year’s priorities and monitor progress at the end of the year. year. The report on the Schengen situation will form the basis for discussions between Members of the European Parliament and the Ministers of the Interior at the Schengen Forum on 2 June and at the forthcoming Schengen Council on 10 June.
The Vice President, Mr. Margaritis Schoinas, stated: “The Schengen area has unified our continent and is emblematic of the European way of life. Last year, decisive steps were taken to further strengthen the Schengen governance and restore confidence in this crucial driving force of our economies. Today’s (yesterday’s) reports reflect the unwavering commitment to ensuring that the Schengen area emerges stronger despite the various challenges it has faced.
Home Affairs Commissioner Elva Johnson said: “Freedom of movement, of living and of work in different Member States is precious to Europeans. Recent crises and challenges have shown that we can not take this freedom for granted. We will continue to work together to implement the priorities set out in the Schengen situation report, as well as to guide the European Border and Coast Guard to act more effectively and comprehensively. “The Schengen area is a shared responsibility that requires commitment and dedication from all of us.”
Current state of the Schengen area and new priorities
The 2022 report on the Schengen situation is the starting point for the new annual Schengen cycle. The cycle envisages a regular “check-up” of the Schengen area that will allow the timely identification of problems to ensure joint responsibility and promote appropriate action. An interinstitutional debate will take place on 2 June at the Schengen Forum, followed by political consultations at the Schengen Council in June.
This process is part of the new Schengen government which strengthens the involvement of all stakeholders in monitoring the operation of the Schengen area and in taking the necessary measures. The new Schengen evaluation and monitoring mechanism, proposed by the Commission in June 2021 and recently approved by the Council, will play a crucial role in this new model of Schengen governance.
The report sets out a set of priority actions for the period 2022-2023 that should be implemented at both national and EU level, such as:
- the implementation of the new IT architecture and interoperability for border management,
- full use of cross-border cooperation tools,
- ensuring systematic checks of all travelers at the external border,
- ensuring that Frontex will reach the full potential of its mandate,
- the abolition of all prolonged internal border controls, as well as
- the adoption of the revised Schengen Borders Code.
The report also recalls the importance of completing the Schengen area and calls on the Council to adopt decisions that will allow Croatia, as well as Romania and Bulgaria, to become formal members, provided that all the criteria are met. The same will apply to Cyprus once it has successfully completed the Schengen evaluation process.
The report also presents the priorities that emerged from the Schengen evaluations. Schengen assessments currently cover external border management, police cooperation, returns, the Schengen Information System, visa policies and data protection.
Although the Schengen assessments of recent years have shown that the Member States generally apply the Schengen rules well, there are some areas that can be improved. This demonstrates that the evaluation mechanism is effective and leads to a continuous strengthening of the Schengen area. Additional efforts are needed in particular in the areas of return and the Schengen Information System. Indeed, in an area without internal border controls, strong police cooperation combined with the effective implementation of large-scale information systems, in particular the Schengen Information System, is essential, as well as effective return policies and common visas.
In addition to the Schengen report, the Commission also consults the institutions on the future multiannual strategic policy for integrated European border management and presents a report on the implementation of the obligation of Member States to carry out systematic external audits. EU borders.
The future of European integrated border management
With yesterday’s policy paper, the Commission begins consulting with the European Parliament and the Council on the future of integrated border management.
It launches the multi-annual strategic policy cycle for European integrated border management, which will provide guidelines for how all actors within the European Border and Coast Guard operate over the next five years.
It sets out the next steps by examining the key factors in integrated border management. These include: border control; search and rescue; risk analysis; interinstitutional, union and international cooperation; return; fundamental rights; research and innovation; and education and training.
It will lead to a communication on the adoption of the multiannual strategic policy for integrated European border management to be adopted at the end of 2022.
Systematic checks at the EU’s external borders
The Commission also publishes the report on the implementation of Article 8 of the Schengen Borders Code, which requires Member States to carry out systematic checks on their databases on all persons crossing the EU external borders, including persons enjoying the right of free movement. The measure was aimed at boosting the EU’s internal security, as it was found that EU foreign nationals were among the foreign terrorist fighters returning to the EU.
The report of the European Parliament and of the Council analyzes the implementation and impact of these systematic controls. It concludes that the implementation of systematic controls has filled a significant regulatory gap, despite the challenges faced by Member States in implementing these rules. The Commission intends to address these challenges and support Member States in the forthcoming revision of the Practical Manual for Border Guards, which is used by the competent authorities of the Member States when carrying out border controls on persons.
Next steps
The reports adopted yesterday will feed the next Schengen forum in June. The forthcoming Schengen Council will give ministers the opportunity to approve the policy priorities set out in the Schengen situation report. Enhanced political commitment based on dialogue and regular monitoring will ensure the implementation of the Schengen area priorities. To this end, the Commission calls on the Member States and the Union agencies to take the necessary measures to implement these priorities and to take the necessary steps to monitor the follow-up. The Commission also calls on the Schengen Council in June to approve the main components of the new Schengen model of governance and the priorities for the period 2022-2023. The Commission will monitor the current process closely, both politically and technically, and will report on progress made and future actions at the end of the annual cycle.
Record
Yesterday ‘s proposals complement the EU’ s ongoing efforts to improve the overall functioning and governance of the Schengen area. The Schengen area without internal border controls is a historic achievement of European integration. Since its founding in 1985, it has changed the daily lives of millions of people. Nearly 1.7 million people live and work in one Schengen state. The world has built its life around the freedoms offered by the Schengen area, with 3.5 million people moving daily from one Schengen state to another. In June 2021, the Commission presented the Schengen Strategy, outlining the challenges the area has faced in recent years and outlining the next steps in strengthening the Schengen area and establishing a strong Schengen governance.
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