Council Regulation (EU) 2022/922 of 9 June 2022 on the establishment and operation of an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis

What it is

to further develop, improve and render the already existing evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion. BACKGROUND: the Schengen area is one of the most significant achievements of the European Union. It has enhanced the freedom of movement by enabling more than 420 million people to move without being subject to internal border controls, as well as facilitating the cross-border delivery of goods and services. The Schengen evaluation and monitoring mechanism is a peer-to-peer review mechanism aimed at verifying that Member States correctly implement the Schengen rules. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted, following a special consultation procedure, the report by Sara SKYTTEDAL (EPP, SE) on the proposal for a Council regulation on the establishment and operation of an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013. The revised evaluation and monitoring mechanism should aim at maintaining a high level of mutual trust among Member States by guaranteeing that Member States apply the Schengen acquis effectively following the agreed common standards, fundamental principles and norms , in order to ensure a well-functioning Schengen area, in full respect for fundamental rights and without internal border controls. The evaluation and monitoring mechanism should achieve these goals through objective and impartial evaluations that are able to quickly identify deficiencies in the application of the Schengen acquis that could disrupt the correct functioning of the Schengen area, ensure that these deficiencies are swiftly addressed, and provide the basis for a genuine political dialogue among Member States on the functioning of the Schengen area as a whole. The committee responsible approved the Commission's proposal subject to the following amendments: The amended Regulation establishes an evaluation and monitoring mechanism for the purpose of ensuring that Member States apply the Schengen acquis effectively to ensure a well-functioning area without internal border controls, and with full respect for fundamental rights . Evaluations may cover all aspects of the Schengen acquis, including the effective and efficient application by the Member States of accompanying measures in the areas of external borders, visa policy, the Schengen Information System, data protection, police cooperation, judicial cooperation, as well as the absence of border control at internal borders. All evaluations should comprise an assessment of compliance with fundamental rights in the context of the aspects covered. Member States, the Commission and the Council should cooperate fully at all stages of the evaluations to ensure the effective implementation of the Regulation, while ensuring that the European Parliament is kept fully informed of all substantial developments. The Commission could organise unannounced evaluations, in…

Frequently asked