BRUSSELS: The Council of the European Union has today given its final approval to a new Schengen Borders Code, the EU’s rulebook that deals with the management of internal and external borders as well as the rules governing border control of persons crossing the external EU borders.

The reform is instrumental in making the Schengen area more resilient to present and future crises at its external borders. It makes also sure that people living and travelling in the EU can fully enjoy the benefits of borderless travel.

The regulation introduces the possibility to adopt EU-wide measures that restrict the access of third-country nationals to the EU in the event of a large-scale public health emergency. It also puts in place a transfer procedure that will help tackle the secondary movement of migrants (from one member state to another) and offers solutions to situations of instrumentalisation of migration.

In the event of a large-scale public health emergency the new rules grant the possibility – following a Cou
ncil decision – to put in place harmonised temporary travel restrictions at the EU’s external border. In addition to travel restrictions, the Council can also impose testing, quarantine and self-isolation and other health related measures for non-EU citizens entering the EU.

The amended Schengen Borders Code will offer member states the possibility to limit the number of border crossing points or reduce their opening hours and allows for enhanced border surveillance measures.

The revised Schengen Borders Code clarifies the existing framework for the reintroduction and prolongation of internal border controls, which is possible when there is a serious threat to public policy or internal security. Member states will need to assess the necessity and proportionality of this decision and assess whether the objectives pursued cannot be attained by other means.

Source: Emirates News Agency