“Smooth movement across our internal borders and the security of our external borders are the two cornerstones of the Schengen area. The agreement reached today to revise the Schengen border code will clarify and strengthen these two pillars,” said Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, whose country is chairing the EU this semester.
The new rules will allow countries to take measures to manage the EU’s external borders, for example by limiting the number of border crossings, reducing opening hours and intensifying border surveillance.
According to the new rules, if threats to public order or security are unforeseeable, controls can be introduced immediately, to be notified at the same time to the Commission, other Member States and the European Parliament.
In that case, they will be limited to a maximum period of one month and may only be extended for a maximum of three months.
Another case is foreseeable threats.
In this case, they may remain in force for a period of up to six months and may be extended for renewable periods of six months, with a maximum duration of two years.
In major exceptional situations due to a persistent threat, internal border controls may be extended beyond two years, for a maximum of six additional months, renewable once for a total duration of one year.
Rules are also foreseen to promote effective alternatives to internal border controls.
A new procedure is included for responding to “unauthorized movements” in joint police operations and allowing member states to review existing readmission agreements between them or conclude pacts.
Under the new Schengen border code, the Council can adopt a decision to allow temporary travel restrictions at the external border if a large-scale public health emergency occurs.
During the pandemic, the EU could only issue non-binding recommendations to member states.
The decision may also include health-related travel restrictions such as testing, quarantine and self-isolation.
7 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Sarah, thanks to your input, I recently purchased a book written by one of my favourite authors, Bill Bryson, called “Troublesome Words”. With the knowledge garnered from same, I am confident that I will never again disappoint you with my erroneous spelling.
SaraThanks Sarah
Richard Pearson“it’s immigration”? Someone else who doesn’t appear to know the difference between it’s and its!
So far no comments from those who didn’t waste a moment to jump down your throat if you didn’t agree with the EU in general and it’s immigration and border control policies in particular. In other words, open borders for all and sundry were good and will remain so, except of course for those terrible Anglo-Saxons, and anyone who disagreed needed their heads looking at. They must all be on holiday, having of course had their visas and Passports stamped in accordance to the laws of that country, who do take an interest in who is coming and going.
Stick it up your arse EU communist. It's always worded as if it's in our interest and for our safety, when in reality it's all about control. They only have to rollout the digital ID and get cash gone. And everyone is a slave to the state. But that's a conspiracy theory.
How about shove your tests, vaccines etc up your hole and close the border to african and arab criminals, and fake refugees. The next person to come near me with a needle is getting their face broke believe me.
Took them long enough. Facing reality is the first step in acknowledging you have a problem. Unfortunately the horse has already bolted.