Schengen Border Code: new rules to preserve the free movement

After long negotiations, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs today adopted the European Parliament’s position on the new Schengen Borders Code, which lays down the rules governing the controls at the EU’s internal and external borders. Throughout the negotiations, the Renew Europe group made it a priority to preserve free movement, by making sure any reintroductions of border controls are limited in time and only subject to strict justification.

Malik Azmani (VVD, Netherlands), the Renew Europe group's negotiator on the Schengen Borders Code, said:

”European citizen's ability to freely move across our continent without border controls is one of the EU’s greatest successes, bringing us closer and boosting our economies. But the Covid-19 pandemic, showing an uncoordinated response by national governments, made clear why new rules governing the Schengen area are needed.

This long awaited reform of the Schengen border code will help preserve and improve the integrity of the Schengen area. The updated and modernised framework will boost Schengen’s resilience for today and tomorrow’s challenges. Thanks to the Renew Europe group, the European Commission and Member States will have more tools to secure the Schengen area, both internally and externally.”