Proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the rules applicable to the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders

Summary:

Legislative initiative adopted by the European Commission in September 2017, which aims at amending the Schengen Borders Code (SBC) as regards the rules applicable to the temporary reintroduction of border controls at internal borders.

Further information:

Secondary movements of irregular migrants and the growth of cross-border terrorism posing threats to the European Union's internal security led a number of countries of the Schengen Agreement to introduce border controls at internal borders. From 2015 to 2017, border controls had been reintroduced and prolonged around 50 times.

The European Commission engaged in reflections on whether there was a need to address the evolving security challenges in the context of the existing legal framework. This proposal aims to ensure that the time limits applicable to the temporary border control at internal border enable Member States to take the measures needed to respons to serious threats to internal security. It also intends to introduce better procedural safeguards so that it ensures risk assessment and cross-border cooperation.

The initiative was put forward on 27 September 2017 by the European Commission alongside a Communication on 'preserving and strengthening Schengen'. Representatives at the Council of the European Union adopted a general approach and mandate for interinstitutional negotiations on 19 June 2018. The European Parliament's plenary session voted on a position on 29 November and returned it to the relevant committee for further amendments. A compromise on the initative was initially deemed infeasible, but on 24 September 2019 the relevant committee approved a decision to resume negotiations.

Official

EP: Legislative Train: Temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-towards-a-new-policy-on-migration/file-temporary-reintroduction-of-border-control-at-internal-borders

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure file on Proposal for a Regulation on a temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2017/0245(COD)

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 19/060/2018: Schengen internal border controls: Council agrees negotiating mandate on the amendment of the Schengen borders code https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/19/schengen-internal-border-controls-council-agrees-negotiating-mandate-on-the-amendment-of-the-schengen-borders-code/

European Parliament: Press Release, 04/04/2019: Schengen: MEPs adopt their position on temporary checks at national borders https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190402IPR34683/

European Parliament: Press Release, 24/09/2019: Schengen: MEPs ready for negotiations on temporary checks at national borders https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190923IPR61744/

---