The EU Council finally approved the new Schengen Border Code - the summary of the EU rules governing the management of internal and external borders and border control of persons.
"The Schengen Journey without border control is one of the main achievements of the EU. Today's vote we have given the Member States the necessary tools to keep such movements without borders inside the Schengen space, ensuring the safety Heads the EU Council.
The approved regulation provides the opportunity to adopt "pan -European measures that restrict access to third countries' citizens to the European Union in the case of a large -scale emergency in the field of public health." He also introduces procedures to combat the secondary movement of migrants and resolve situations where migrants are used for political purposes.
The document contains an explanation for possible temporary introduction of internal borders, guaranteeing that such measures will remain an extreme decision in the event of a serious threat to state policy or internal security. In such cases, EU countries will have to evaluate the need and compliance of this decision, as well as consider other possible means of achieving goals.
The revised code establishes the maximum duration of control at internal borders - a maximum of two years. In exceptional situations, this control can be twice prolonged for another 6 months, with the possibility of extension for one year.
This resolution of the EU Council shall enter into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the EU's official journal and will be directly applied in EU countries.
