Brussels, 10/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 10 March, the European Commission proposed new “more efficient” rules for border crossing, it announced in a press release. These rules seek to speed up the movement of people across EU internal and external borders “in a controlled manner”.
The changes will bring improvements to the Schengen Borders Code which came into force in October 2006. The Commission focuses on: better cooperation between the EU and third countries; speeding up border control; reduction of unnecessary red-tape; increased legal certainty for travellers and border guards; and improved training of border guards.
On the first area for action, the Commission will propose a legal framework for bilateral agreements related to joint border checks on road traffic which “will reinforce cooperation at land borders between EU member states and neighbouring third countries”. On speeding up controls, there is the possibility of creating separate lanes for visa-free travellers. To reduce formalities, the administrative burden on intra-EU cargo ships, international train crews and offshore workers will be made lighter. “Internal cargo operators will benefit from the absence of internal border controls in the same way as internal ferry operators, which is not the case today.” In order to increase legal certainty, entry conditions for third country nationals will be clarified, “through a clearer determination of the calculation method for 'stays not exceeding three months per six-month period' and of the required length of validity of travel documents of non visa holders”.
For border guards, “specialised training will be developed” to help them detect “situations involving particularly vulnerable people (i.e. unaccompanied minors and victims of trafficking)”.
The proposed amendments will now be put to the Council and the European Parliament. (S.P./transl.rt)