On Tuesday 19 March, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties approved the agreement reached with the EU Council on the revision of the Schengen Borders Code by 32 votes to 16, with 4 abstentions. MEPs from the Greens/EFA and ID groups and some members of The Left voted against the agreement.
The reform proposed by Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, French) should coordinate the re-establishment of controls at internal borders or measures at external borders in pandemic-type situations, provide a framework for the re-establishment or extension of internal controls in the event of threats to internal security by setting a time limit, and address the issue of secondary movements (see EUROPE 13345/18) with a new Article 23a on the transfer to a neighbouring Member State of illegal migrants apprehended in border areas.
The reform also introduces the dimension of instrumentalisation of migrants and a new criterion linked to sudden influxes of third-country nationals.
Member States will be able to extend internal border controls based on security risks or migratory flows for a period of two years. After six months, they will have to provide a risk assessment justifying their measures. After one year, the Commission will have to issue an opinion on whether the measures are proportionate and necessary.
The plenary will vote on the agreement in April.
Link to the agreement: https://aeur.eu/f/be9 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)