EU Commission proposes new Schengen area rules

The European Union’s Commission has unveiled a proposal for the update of the Schengen Area Borders’ Code, in a bid to make the borderless Schengen Zone more resilient towards future challenges, which in the past have threatened its existence.

Unfolding the new proposed rules of the Schengen Area, the Commission has amongst others recommended making the reintroduction of internal border controls a measure of last resort, and instead, managing external borders more efficiently.

“The targeted changes will bring greater EU coordination and better equip Member States to deal with emerging challenges when managing both the EU’s common external border and internal borders within the Schengen area,” the EU Commission notes in a press release issued regarding the proposal.

Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, brought up the challenges brought by the Coronavirus, asserting that the pandemic showed the importance of the Schengen Area for the EU economy and society.

The main changes that the Commission intends to make to the Schengen Border Codes are as follows: reintroduction of border controls, promoting alternative measures, tackling unauthorised movements within the Schengen Zone.