Schengen Borders Code: strengthening borders and solidarity.

At a very crucial and difficult time for the EU, irregular migration flows are increasing rapidly and forcing political debates over the functioning and the effectiveness of the Schengen area. Today's almost unanimous positive vote (51 for, 3 against, 2 abstentions) on the Report on the Amendment of the Schengen Borders Code in Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, gives a crystal clear message that MEPs want to protect and further empower the Schengen area.

The Schengen area is one of Europe's greatest achievements. It ensures the free movement of EU citizens by eliminating border checks carried out on people, thus enhancing the notion of solidarity and common European identity, and promoting better economic results and growth. By updating the rules and legal developments that have taken place since the establishment of Regulation 562/2006, and since the coming-into-force of the Lisbon Treaty, the current amended proposal takes into consideration legal and practical experiences gained over time from the Member States through the application of the Schengen Borders Code. MEPs regard the notion of the removal of controls at the internal borders between Members States as vital and goes hand in hand with the need for effective controls, deeper cooperation and mutual trust at the external borders of the Schengen area. In this context, the adopted amendments improve the existing frame and on the other hand strengthen the external borders which will also strengthen solidarity amongst the Member States by also providing further economic development.

"Over the last year, the increased irregular migration flows have stepped up the pressure on Member States, especially in the South of Europe, and fuelled major political debates. Today's decision is a response to that and it reaffirms the intention of the European Parliament to strengthen, improve and further develop the Schengen acquis", said the European Parliament Rapporteur on the proposal for amending the Regulation establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) and the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement", said Georgios Papanikolaou MEP.

Negotiations at Trialogue level are expected to commence so as to decide on the final text.