Communication providing operational guidelines for external border management to facilitate border crossings at the EU-Ukraine borders

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 2 March 2022, setting out operational guidelines aimed at supporting the EU Member States' border guards in managing arrivals at the borders with Ukraine efficiently, while maintaining a high level of security.

Further information:

Following the start of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Council called for work to be taken forward on preparedness at all levels and invited the European Commission to put forward contingency measures. The gravity of the war and its proximity to the EU's external borders, as well as the initial figures concerning already displaced people from Ukraine entering neighbouring EU countries, indicated that the EU would likely face a situation characterised by a mass influx of Ukrainians and other third-country or stateless persons legally residing in Ukraine at the time of the country, who were forced to leave the country because of Russia's aggression.

These guidelines on external border management clarify the facilitations available to Member States' border guards under the Schengen rules in conducting border controls. The facilitations available include:

• Simplification of border controls at the EU's borders with Ukraine;
• Flexibility as regards entry conditions;
• Allowing crossings at temporary border crossing points, outside official border crossing points;
• Easy access for rescue services and humanitarian assistance;
• Personal belongings and pets.

The guidelines recommend Member States make use of the support EU Agencies can provide – with Frontex able to assist on identifying and registering people arriving and Europol available to deploy officers supporting Member States with secondary checks.

This Commission Communication was adopted on 2 March 2022 and published in the Official Journal on 4 March 2022.

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 02/03/2022: Ukraine: Commission proposes temporary protection for people fleeing war in Ukraine and guidelines for border checks https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_1469

---