November 2015
Justice and Home Affairs Ministers met in Brussels to discuss how to strengthen the following measures, inter alia: EU Passenger Name Record Directive, controls of external borders, information sharing and law enforcement cooperation.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: external border, foreign fighter, passenger name record, Schengen Information System
July 2015
Today, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the "Smart Borders Package", one of the priorities included in the European Agenda on Migration. All citizens (EU nationals and non-EU nationals) and organisations are invited to contribute.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border management, European Commission
April 2015
A 10 point action plan of the immediate actions has been presented by Commissioner Avramopoulos and received the full backing of Foreign and Interior Ministers.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
Keywords: Mediterranean region
March 2015
On Sunday, 15 March the project on Smart Borders Pilot reached the next milestone - the execution phase – in Lisbon Airport, Portugal.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Schengen, smart border
December 2014
The last update of reference amounts for the crossing of the external borders has been published in the EU Official Journal on 13 December 2014. Belgium’s requirements are outlined.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: external border, means of subsistence, Schengen borders code
November 2014
On 11 November 2014, the European Commission has released its 6th bi-annual report on the functioning of the Schengen area covering the period from 1 May to 31 October 2014.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission, Data & Statistics
Keywords: border management, irregular migration path, Schengen, visa policy
September 2014
On 4 September 2014, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued a case-law concerning the interpretation of the Regulations establishing the Schengen Borders Code (2006) and the Visa Code (2009)
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Court of Justice of the European Union, border check, entry condition, visa affixed to travel document
September 2014
2013 statistics on enforcement of immigration legislation have been released by Eurostat in September 2014.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Data & Statistics
Keywords: entry refusal, external border, illegal stay, obligation to leave the territory
April 2014
The Commission presented two proposals today to greatly facilitate the procedures for short-stay visitors. Important changes in the visa rules aim to stimulate the European economy and facilitate the lives of travellers towards the EU.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: touring visa, visa code, visa policy
December 2013
The tragedy in Lampedusa prompted an unprecedented call for action by EU leaders and citizens. On 4 December, the Commission proposed ways to increase solidarity and mutual support in order to prevent migrants' death in the Mediterranean.
Main Theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: EUROSUR, Frontex, Lampedusa, resettlement
December 2013
Ending its 3279th meeting of 5 and 6 December, the JHA Council presents its conclusions. Topics discussed include the free movement of EU citizens, the Task Force Mediterranean, full application of the Schengen acquis by Bulgaria and Romania and the European citizenship report 2013.
Main Theme: Migration, Citizenship & Nationality, Borders & Visa
Keywords: Bulgaria, freedom of movement, Lampedusa, Romania
December 2013
On 5 December, the Council of the EU adopted unanimously a regulation, introducing a suspension and reciprocity mechanism in the Council Regulation, listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas to enter the EU.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: EU Council, visa requirements
December 2013
On 2 December the European Border Surveillance System becomes operational. EUROSUR will make an important contribution to saving lives and will also equip the EU and its Member States with better tools to prevent cross-border crimes and to detect and provide assistance to migrant boats in distress.
Main Theme: Asylum, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: EUROSUR, Frontex
October 2013
Starting from today, 18 October 2013, a new definition of "short stay" and another method of calculating the period of short stay, must be applied by all EU Member States.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Schengen acquis
October 2013
The Members of the European Parliament approved the operating rules of Eurosur, a communication network that enables Member States to share real-time images and data on development at the EU's external borders.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: EUROSUR, external border, Lampedusa
April 2013
The Commission has made its new proposal to replace the measure which the Court of Justice annulled in September.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Frontex, external sea border
March 2013
SIS II, which is seen as a vital seucirty factor in the EU, will be in operation on 9 April 2013, becoming one of the world's largest IT systems in the field.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Schengen acquis, Schengen Information System
February 2013
Today, the Commission proposed a "smart border package" to reinforce border check procedures for foreigners travelling to the EU.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: entry exit system, registered traveller programme, smart border
November 2012
In a strategic Communication adopted today, the Commission examines how the implementation and development of the common visa policy could help growth in the EU by facilitating travel opportunities for third country nationals willing to visit the EU.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: economy, growth, tourism
June 2012
On 30 June 2012 the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, taking over the Danish Presidency, presented its 6 months programme. Asylum, Migration and Borders is one of the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency's Operational Programme.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration, Borders & Visa
Keywords: CEAS, legislation, policy, Stockholm Programme
April 2012
Based on judgement in case C-83/12 Minh Koa Vo, a Member State may impose criminal penalties for aiding illegal immigration when the persons who have entered the Union territory, national of non member countries, hold visas fraudulently obtained but not yet annulled.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
Keywords: Court of Justice of the European Union, criminal penalties, judgement
March 2012
The Ministers responsible for asylum and migration of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom met in Brussels on 7 March 2012 to discuss measures in the field of combating illegal immigration
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
July 2011
The Frontex Risk Analysis Network (FRAN) released its newest quarterly report, covering January - March 2011
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking, External Dimension
Keywords: border control, Frontex, Lampedusa
July 2011
EU leaders on 24 June agreed to establish a "safeguard mechanism" allowing the re-introduction of internal borders in exceptional circumstances
Main Theme: Migration, Borders & Visa
Keywords: EU Council, Schengen Agreement
June 2011
On 9 and 10 June 2011, the Justice and Home Affairs of the Council of the European Union took place in Luxembourg. On the agenda of the home affairs ministers stood, amongst others, amendments on FRONTEX-rules and the Schengen evaluation of Bulgaria and Romania.