End of the patchwork quilt ?: EU advocates greater freedom of travel


End of the patchwork quilt?
EU advocates more freedom of travel

During the Corona crisis, the borders in the Schengen area were repeatedly closed in an uncoordinated and blanket manner. A new code for police cooperation and standardized systems are planned to ensure that cooperation between EU states is better and more controlled in the future.

After the border closings during the corona pandemic and the refugee crisis, the EU Commission wants to reform the Schengen system for freedom of travel in Europe. In recent years, the member states have reacted to crises with “uncoordinated and blanket” border closings and travel restrictions, said Vice-Commission President Margaritis Schinas. Brussels therefore wants to offer “alternatives” such as stronger police cooperation and bring the member states to greater political coordination.

The Schengen Agreement has guaranteed freedom of travel in Europe since 1995. In principle, border controls only take place at the external borders of the Schengen area from 26 countries. In addition to the citizens, the economy also benefits: goods can be brought to customers faster and more predictably, which also reduces costs. In addition to 22 EU countries including Germany, the Schengen area also includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

As in the refugee crisis, the Corona crisis had a veritable patchwork of uncoordinated travel restrictions in the EU. They have shown that “one of the EU’s greatest achievements (…) cannot be taken for granted,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. However, border controls are a national matter. As a rule, the Commission can only call for better coordination here. The planned reforms are unlikely to fundamentally change that.

Better collaboration through standardized systems

On the one hand, the authority wants to push ahead with controls at the external borders in order to protect freedom of movement in the Schengen area. It has already been decided that the number of officers at the Frontex border protection agency should be increased to 10,000 by 2027. As Brussels has now announced, the different computer systems for border and migration control are to be standardized by 2023.

The Commission also called on Member States and the European Parliament to quickly agree on their proposals for screening refugees at the external borders. They are part of the EU asylum reform, which has not made progress for years because of profound differences of opinion among EU governments.

With a view to the internal management of the Schengen area, Brussels wants to propose a new code for police cooperation in the EU. In addition, the PrĂ¼m contract is to be updated to facilitate the exchange of information about DNA, fingerprints and vehicle registration numbers. In addition, the EU Commission wants to introduce advance information about passengers on flights within the Schengen area.

The Commission also announced a proposal for the revision of the Schengen Borders Code for the autumn. EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson did not want to give any details on this yet. An “emergency plan” is also planned for future crises, which provides for the use of the “green” lanes introduced in the Corona crisis for trucks at the borders, in order to at least guarantee smooth delivery traffic.

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