Deal reached on changes to Schengen Agreement

BRUSSELS European Council, European Commission and European Parliament officials reached a deal on changes to the Schengen Agreement late on Wednesday. It will ensure a better control of the EU borders, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said on Thursday. Deal reached on changes to Schengen Agreement "This is an important step towards a more European and better functioning Schengen area for the benefit of the European citizens," Malmstrom said in a media release, underscoring that it is good that the agreement will protect the freedom of movement within the Schengen area through clear and transparent rules concerning the control of external and internal borders. It is important to note that the agreement on the Schengen proposals does not dismiss a possibility of suspending the visa-free regime (the so-called protective mechanism) due to an increased influx of bogus asylum seekers, primarily from Serbia and Macedonia. Taking into account that the EU member states which called for introduction of this mechanism did not arrive at an agreement on the issue with the Commission and Parliament, that means that citizens of Serbia and other countries in the region will still be able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa. The agreement on the Schengen proposals is a result of the months-long talks between the key EU institutions and member states about when temporary border controls could be introduced within the Schengen area. On Wednesday evening, the agreement was reached that the European Commission should be granted the central role in the decision-making process concerning the temporary establishment of borders, which was opposed by certain member states that wanted that prerogative for themselves. The agreement also strengthens the role of Frontex, the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders, which will now have a better overview of who is coming in and out of the Schengen area. This agreement could be tabled for discussion in the European Parliament as soon as the next month, after which its implementation will begin. Tanjug

Deal reached on changes to Schengen Agreement

"This is an important step towards a more European and better functioning Schengen area for the benefit of the European citizens," Malmstrom said in a media release, underscoring that it is good that the agreement will protect the freedom of movement within the Schengen area through clear and transparent rules concerning the control of external and internal borders.

It is important to note that the agreement on the Schengen proposals does not dismiss a possibility of suspending the visa-free regime (the so-called protective mechanism) due to an increased influx of bogus asylum seekers, primarily from Serbia and Macedonia.

Taking into account that the EU member states which called for introduction of this mechanism did not arrive at an agreement on the issue with the Commission and Parliament, that means that citizens of Serbia and other countries in the region will still be able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa.

The agreement on the Schengen proposals is a result of the months-long talks between the key EU institutions and member states about when temporary border controls could be introduced within the Schengen area.

On Wednesday evening, the agreement was reached that the European Commission should be granted the central role in the decision-making process concerning the temporary establishment of borders, which was opposed by certain member states that wanted that prerogative for themselves.

The agreement also strengthens the role of Frontex, the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders, which will now have a better overview of who is coming in and out of the Schengen area.

This agreement could be tabled for discussion in the European Parliament as soon as the next month, after which its implementation will begin.