Monday

11th Dec 2023

EU unveils hard-hitting border control bill

  • The European commission unveiled its EU border agency (Photo: Freedom House)

Dissenting EU states may end up in court or face as-of-yet undefined sanctions if they refuse to let the European Commission dispatch guards to their national borders.

The threat is part of a bill on a European border and coast guard system unveiled on Tuesday (15 December) by the Brussels-executive, which says EU guards can be deployed on the bloc’s external frontiers without the consent of the host state if need be.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

EU vice-president Frans Timmermans and EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said the proposal would not strip member states of sovereign rights.

They also said it’s needed to defend the passport-free Schengen zone.

“If we want the Schengen system to continue to perform, to do better than it did before, we need to have more capacity to analyse what is actually happening, to do this quicker, and on the basis of this analysis be able to react to potential threats or changes in the situation,” said Timmermans.

The new system would replace the smaller EU border agency, Frontex, with a so-called European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

The new agency would have a reserve pool of 1,500 border guards, which can be dispatched in a matter of days to an external border to prevent a crisis from escalating.

The plan is part of a broader effort to regain control over the EU's external border following huge arrivals of asylum seekers.

EU officials and leaders say the Schengen area is at risk of collapse if external borders are not properly managed.

All eyes are on Greece, which, over the past 11 months, has received the bulk of irregular migrants.

Most come from Turkey to Greek islands in the Aegean before heading through the Western Balkans to mainland EU states.

The past two weeks alone saw 45,255 migrants and refugees reach Greek islands from Turkey, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

It says almost 80 percent crossed into Macedonia in the same period.

Last Friday, Greek prime minister Alexis Tspiras voiced support for the new border guard plan, but said Athens would remain the ultimate decision maker on border control.

Commission officials say the hosting member state would take the operational lead, but outstanding issues remain should the EU state flat out refuse.

The commission may adopt a so-called implementing decision to request direct intervention of the Agency if the member state either fails to control its border or refuses to host the EU guards.

The secondary legislation requires a positive opinion, based on a qualified majority, from a committee composed of experts from the 28 EU states.

“If there is no qualified majority then the commission cannot implement the decision,” noted an EU official.

The official added that “it is the loyal duty of the member state concerned to implement decisions taken.”

Timmermans, for his part, described it as a “safety net, as the ultimate measure that might be possible theoretically.”

The decision would be based on a “vulnerability” risk assessment conducted by an agency liaison officer sent to the border area.

Asked what sanctions and infringements await dissenting member states, an EU official said details are yet to be clarified.

“The member state would be infringing its obligation,” said the official.

The move follows other EU plans which later fell foul of member states, who failed to provide the extra manpower needed to get so-called hotspots, where migrants are identified and registered, up and running in Greece and Italy.

Frontex had asked member states to supply 743 guest officers to work at the external border in Greece but only received 447.

A two-year relocation scheme to dispatch 160,000 arrivals in Greece and Italy to other member states has also stalled. Only 64 asylum seekers have been relocated from Greece and 144 from Italy so far this year.

The new border bill still needs to go through normal legislative procedures at the European Parliament and the Council, representing member states.

EU border control plan faces resistance

Ministers agree need to better protect external border, but Hungary and Poland critical of plans for EU border force with "right to intervene" even if states don't want it.

Opinion

Central EU border security is necessary evil

If the EU gets a grip of its borders, it will help not just Europe, but also those refugees in dire need who would receive better help in a more structured environment.

MEPs fast-track EU border guard plan

EU parliament gives thumbs up to controversial plan for new border guard force that can be deployed to EU states even if they do not want it. Force could be operational by autumn.

Analysis

How Wilders' Dutch extremism goes way beyond Islamophobia

Without losing sight of his pervasive Islamophobia, it is essential to note Geert Wilders' far-right extremism extends to other issues that could drastically alter the nature of Dutch politics — and end its often constructive role in advancing EU policies.

Latest News

  1. Why this week's EU summit must agree a new budget deal
  2. How Moldova is trying to control tuberculosis
  3. Many problems to solve in Dubai — honesty about them is good
  4. Sudanese fleeing violence find no haven in Egypt or EU
  5. How should EU reform the humanitarian aid system?
  6. EU suggests visa-bans on Israeli settlers, following US example
  7. EU ministers prepare for all-night fiscal debate
  8. Spain's Nadia Calviño backed to be EIB's first female chief

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  2. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  3. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  5. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  6. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us