SPECIAL REPORT
11
Systematic Checks for EU Citizens
Systematic checks of EU citizens at external borders agreed by European Parliament and Council
The European Commission welcomes the agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission’s proposal to introduce mandatory systematic checks of all travellers, including EU citizens, against relevant databases when crossing the EU’s external borders. The Commission now looks forward to the swift adoption of the proposal by the European Parliament Plenary and the Council. Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “In the wake
of the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015, we proposed to introduce systematic checks of all citizens at all external borders so we know exactly who crosses our borders. I welcome that the European Parliament and the Council have now agreed on our proposal to modify the Schengen Borders Code to that effect. In addition to the successful launch of the European Border and Coast Guard in October, enforcing systematic controls on all travellers crossing EU external borders is another crucial step in our work to preserve the freedom of movement within the Schengen area and ensuring the security of our citizens.” While third-country nationals are already subject to systematic document and security checks against relevant databases upon entry, the targeted reform of the Schengen Borders Code also introduces mandatory systematic checks of EU citizens against relevant databases, namely the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the Interpol Stolen and
Border Security Report | September/October 2016