Schengen Area

Lifting of travel restrictions: Council reviews the list of third countries

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 10, 2020
Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Human migration, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, Travel, Europe, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Visa policy of the Schengen Area

Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.

Key Points: 
  • Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.
  • As stipulated in the Council recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed regularly and, as the case may be, updated.
  • For countries where travel restrictions continue to apply, the following categories of people should be exempted from the restrictions:

    Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.

  • On 30 June the Council adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, including an initial list of countries for which member states should start lifting the travel restrictions at the external borders.

Migration: COVID-19 continues to cause hardship for migrants and deprives children of access to education

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Cultural globalization, Refugees, Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Human migration, Asylum seeker, Continents, European migrant crisis

Furthermore, the lack of online learning tools and stable internet connection deprives many asylum-seeking children of access to education.

Key Points: 
  • Furthermore, the lack of online learning tools and stable internet connection deprives many asylum-seeking children of access to education.
  • Situation at the border

    Migrants and asylum seekers continue to face additional obstacles when trying to enter the EU.

  • The number of allegations of pushbacks at borders, in contravention with the EU Schengen rules, have increased.
  • Child protection

    Because of the pandemic, many asylum-seeking children cannot access education.

Fundamental rights and the Entry-Exit border system

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 24, 2020
Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Europe, Continents, Identity documents, Visa policy of the Schengen Area, Passport stamp

On 21 July, FRA presented the fundamental rights issues related to the Entry-Exit System during an awareness-raising webinar organised by eu-LISA for Member States.

Key Points: 

On 21 July, FRA presented the fundamental rights issues related to the Entry-Exit System during an awareness-raising webinar organised by eu-LISA for Member States.

The Entry-Exit System will register all entry and exits of non-EU nationals who cross the Schengen borders and stay in the Schengen area on a short-term basis.

The Entry-Exit System will become operational in 2022. 

Council updates the list of countries for which member states should gradually lift travel restrictions at the external borders

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 17, 2020
Identity documents, Foreign relations of the European Union, International law, International relations, Politics of Europe, Europe, Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area

Following the first review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.

Key Points: 
  • Following the first review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.
  • For countries where travel restrictions continue to apply, the following categories of people should be exempted from the restrictions:

    Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.

  • A member state should not decide to lift the travel restrictions for non-listed third countries before this has been decided in a coordinated manner.
  • On 30 June the Council adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, including an initial list of countries for which member states should start lifting the travel restrictions at the external borders.

Council agrees to start lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Foreign relations of the European Union, Identity documents, Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas

The Council today adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU.
  • Travel restrictions should be lifted for countries listed in the recommendation, with this list being reviewed and, as the case may be, updated every two weeks.
  • For countries where travel restrictions continue to apply, the following categories of people should be exempted from the restrictions:

    Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.

  • A Member State should not decide to lift the travel restrictions for non-listed third countries before this has been decided in a coordinated manner.

Press release - MEPs call for free movement across borders to be swiftly and fully re-established

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Continents, Politics of Europe, World, Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas, International law, European Union, Border control

MEPs reject any uncoordinated, bilateral action by individual EU countries and highlight the principle of non-discrimination in the reopening of borders.

Key Points: 
  • MEPs reject any uncoordinated, bilateral action by individual EU countries and highlight the principle of non-discrimination in the reopening of borders.
  • MEPs also urgently call for a discussion on a Recovery Plan for Schengen to prevent any temporary internal border controls from becoming semi-permanent.
  • Without the return to a fully functional Schengen Area, we are still missing an essential stepping-stone on our way to recovery.
  • A complete return to free movement, no discrimination, mutual trust and solidarity are of utmost importance and core values of the EU.

Thirty-second plenary session: Statement on the interoperability of contact tracing applications, statement on the opening of borders and data protection rights, response letters to MEP Körner on laptop camera covers and encryption and letter to the[...]

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Data security, Data protection, Information privacy, Privacy law, General Data Protection Regulation, In Europe, Information, Schengen Area, Computer security, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

During its 32nd plenary session, the EDPB adopted a statement on the interoperability of contact tracing apps, as well as a statement on the opening of borders and data protection rights.

Key Points: 
  • During its 32nd plenary session, the EDPB adopted a statement on the interoperability of contact tracing apps, as well as a statement on the opening of borders and data protection rights.
  • The Board also adopted two letters to MEP Krner - on encryption and on Article 25 GDPR - and a letter to CEAOB on PCAOB arrangements.
  • Giving data subjects information and control will increase their trust in the solutions and their potential uptake.
  • The goal of interoperability should not be used as an argument to extend the collection of personal data beyond what is necessary.
  • Ensuring interoperability is not only technically challenging and sometimes impossible without disproportionate trade-offs, but also leads to a potential increased data protection risk.
  • The EDPB adopted a statement on the processing of personal data in the context of reopening the Schengen borders following the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • These include lawfulness, fairness and transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, storage limitation, security of data and data protection by design and by default.
  • 46 (2) (a) and 46 (3) (b) GDPR for transfers of personal data between EEA and non-EEA public authorities.

Webinar addresses migrant border assistance

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, June 13, 2020
Aftermath of war, International law, Nobel laureates, Law enforcement in Europe, Humans, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, International relations, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, International Committee of the Red Cross, Border control, Non-refoulement

On 11 June, FRA contributed to a Red Cross Europe webinar on assisting migrants at borders.

Key Points: 
  • On 11 June, FRA contributed to a Red Cross Europe webinar on assisting migrants at borders.
  • FRA spoke during a panel alongside the UN Refugee Agency and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the impact of EU border management on the needs of migrants.
  • FRA described the fundamental rights safeguards included in the Schengen Borders Code and the preventive measures EU Member States can take when cooperating with non-EU countries (see FRA guidance on non-refoulement).

Article - Schengen key to recovery: interview with civil liberties committee chair

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Law enforcement in Europe, Politics of Europe, European Union, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas, Continents, Schengen, European Union law, European Economic Area, Visa policy of the Schengen Area

Our committee has been reminding member states that they are bound by European law, the Schengen borders code.

Key Points: 
  • Our committee has been reminding member states that they are bound by European law, the Schengen borders code.
  • The law says that all restrictions should be time-framed and that the grounds for suspension should be reasonable and proportional.
  • Read more on what the EU can do about the reopening of Schengen borders

    Does the Schengen zone need better coordination and governance?

  • Watch the full interview, which also delved into Schengen enlargement, migration, asylum and the use of personal data in the fight against Covid-19, on our Facebook page.

Press release - Returning to free movement across borders is of utmost importance

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 5, 2020
Law enforcement in Europe, Politics of Europe, Continents, Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas, European integration, Schengen

They stress that a swift and coordinated return to a fully functional Schengen area is of utmost importance to safeguard freedom of movement, one of the main achievements of European integration, and to ensure the EUs economic recovery after the pandemic.

Key Points: 
  • They stress that a swift and coordinated return to a fully functional Schengen area is of utmost importance to safeguard freedom of movement, one of the main achievements of European integration, and to ensure the EUs economic recovery after the pandemic.
  • Restrictions on freedom of movement could be lifted where the public health situation in neighbouring regions has comparably improved.
  • Except for these three countries, Cyprus and Ireland, all EU countries are part of the Schengen area.
  • The plenary is expected to vote on the resolution in its plenary session taking place 17-19 June.