{"id":6257,"date":"2024-04-17T16:12:35","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T14:12:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erik-marquardt.eu\/?p=6257"},"modified":"2024-04-17T16:18:10","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T14:18:10","slug":"briefing-reform-des-schengener-grenzkodex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erik-marquardt.eu\/en\/briefing-reform-of-chengen-boundary-code\/","title":{"rendered":"Briefing: Reform of the Schengen Borders Code"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Schengen Borders Code regulates entry conditions and border controls at the EU's external and internal borders. It deals, for example, with the question of the conditions under which internal border controls are possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Borders Code is an important instrument for ensuring freedom of movement in Europe; however, Member States often do not comply with the Code. For example, they introduce internal border controls and disregard the legal basis for them. These controls jeopardize the Schengen area by hindering the free movement of people, goods and services, which is so important for the functioning of the EU and its associated countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). In border regions in particular, internal border controls not only cost a lot of money, but also restrict people's lives. At the same time, they often do not lead to the achievement of self-imposed goals, for example because they cannot prevent asylum applications, although this is repeatedly claimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The European Commission attempted to reform the Schengen Borders Code in 2017, but the member states were unable to agree on a common position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the Member States closed internal borders during the coronavirus pandemic without coordination at EU level, the Commission proposed a new reform that includes provisions for major health emergencies, such as pandemics. Parallel to the reform process of the Schengen Borders Code, the European Court of Justice has ruled in a Basic ruling<\/a> not only interpreted the duration of internal border controls under the current code very strictly, but also clearly stated that endless internal border controls violate the freedom of movement enshrined in EU law. This made it clear that freedom of movement is a right that EU member states may not restrict indefinitely. The co-legislators (Council and Parliament) must therefore find a balance between \"freedom\" and \"security\" that only works with a fixed time limit for internal border controls in the reformed Schengen Borders Code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Commission proposal from December 2021<\/a> was controversial to say the least, followed by an even more problematic Negotiating position of the Member States<\/a>. Despite the often emphasized importance of the Schengen area for the realization of freedom of movement in the EU, these texts would have led to Member States being able to introduce endless internal border controls under certain circumstances. The European Parliament, on the other hand, with its Negotiating position<\/a> a compromise that protects the Schengen area.<\/p>\n\n\n\nECJ ruling on border controls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The final compromise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n