On Wednesday 25 April, the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee adopted the first annual report on the functioning of the Schengen area at a time when several member states are still operating checks at their internal borders and want, as Germany does, to extend these checks for a further six months.
In the report drafted by Carlos Coelho (EPP, Portugal), MEPs call on the member states to increase their “mutual trust”, through, for example, police and judicial cooperation, the management of common borders and cooperation in visa policy and the common asylum policy, a press release says.
MEPs approved the report by 45 votes to 8, with 3 abstentions. In it, they highlight more serious shortcomings in the Schengen area, related notably to the European asylum system and, in particular, to the solidarity mechanisms to support member states overwhelmed by the arrivals of migrants. They are critical, too, of the inadequate contributions by member states in human resources and in equipment to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
The report proposes a number of solutions: MEPs firstly want a permanent search and rescue capability at sea in order to prevent loss of life in crossings; they want stronger cooperation with third countries to reduce irregular migration. They also call for spot checks to be carried out at countries’ internal borders as part of the Schengen evaluation system. The member states must ensure swift and effective return procedures that comply fully with fundamental rights and provide humanity and dignity. They also urge member states to ensure adequate infrastructure, accommodation and living conditions for arriving asylum seekers.
In this non-binding report, they repeat “Romania and Bulgaria’s readiness for joining the Schengen Area” and call on the Council to approve their accessions. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)