About: schengen area
EU countries still struggle to approve border reopening ‘safe list’
EU member states are still struggling to approve a list of “safe countries” from where travellers could visit Europe in July, with the issue now being put to a vote, diplomats said on Monday (29 June). EU envoys on Friday...
EU signs contract for large-scale biometric database to protect borders
The European Union's ICT agency for internal security and border control, eu-LISA, has signed a framework contract for a new biometric matching system which aims to create a database of fingerprints and facial images of more than 400 million third-country nationals by 2022.
Commission proposes gradual lifting of borders, in bid to save Europe’s summer
The European Commission on Wednesday (13 May) set out plans for a phased restart of travel this summer, proposing a gradual lifting of borders in an attempt to kick start a tourism sector hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johansson opposes ‘selective’ border openings, hopes for Schengen enlargement
EU must go “back to the future” of open borders after COVID-19 “as soon as possible”, Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told EU lawmakers on Thursday (7 May) as the European Commission wants member states to start gradually lifting national...
German farms need nearly 300,000 seasonal workers
There is no shortage of food during the coronavirus pandemic, but farmers are urgently looking for seasonal workers for the harvest. The German government wants to help by relaxing employment rules and providing online placement. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Migrants at German-Austrian border will be returned, says Seehofer
After a meeting in Vienna on Thursday (5 July), Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz welcomed Germany’s decision to send back rejected asylum seekers to the EU countries where they first came in – namely Italy, Greece and Spain.
Domino effect of German border closure awaits crucial Vienna talks
The Austrian government remains cautious but warned there will be consequences if the German border is closed, ahead of a meeting with Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Thursday (5 July) in Vienna.
MEPs want to revive the Schengen area
The European Parliament calls for the accession of Romania, Croatia and Bulgaria to the passport-free Schengen area, which has suffered setbacks with the reintroduction of internal border checks since 2015. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Serious shortcomings in the French draft law on asylum
The "Dublin Regulation", the cause of much controversy in the management of migration flows, appears to have been completely left out of France’s draft law on immigration and asylum, put forward by the government on Wednesday 21 February. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Bulgaria, Romania have made progress but still more needed – EU report
Bulgaria and Romania have made some progress in implementing judicial reforms and the fight against corruption but "there is still more work to be done," the Commission said in its regular report on the two countries that remain blocked from joining the borderless Schengen area despite becoming EU members in 2007.
Armenia urged to ‘do homework’ to prepare for visa-free travel
Armenia’s government has been urged to start “internal preparations” for visa liberalisation, the process for which could be started at a summit in November.
EU starts systematic checks at external borders today
Europeans will face systematic checks at the external borders of the EU's Schengen area beginning on Friday (7 April) under legislation designed to tackle "foreign fighters" returning from Iraq and Syria.
MEPs and mayors discuss strategies to fight populism
In the wake of Brexit and the rise of populism, EU lawmakers and municipal leaders gathered on Tuesday (7 March) to discuss potential strategies to defeat Euroscepticism.
Europe emerges as major battlefront in French election
Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, the two front-runners in the French presidential race, both chose Lyon to officially launch their presidential campaigns at the weekend (4 February). Europe emerged as the central issue in the race to the Elysée Palace. Euractiv France reports.
Romania praised again in EU justice monitoring report but weaknesses remain
The European Commission has released its latest report on Romania's progress under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, which puts its judicial system under close surveillance for potential corruption and organised crime. EURACTIV Romania reports.
Croatia inches closer to Schengen membership
The European Commission on Wednesday (18 January) proposed the gradual integration of Croatia into the Schengen Information System (SIS), bringing the newest EU member state slightly closer to full membership of the EU borderless area.
German ministers agree on tougher rules for migrants posing security risk
Germany's interior and justice ministers, representing the two blocs in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition, agreed on Tuesday (10 January) on tougher measures for asylum seekers whose documents are not in order or who are deemed to pose a security threat.
EU unveils plan to restore Schengen by the end of 2016
The EU on Friday (4 March) unveiled a "roadmap" to end border controls imposed by member states because of the migrant crisis and restore by the year's end the Schengen passport-free travel area.
Peruvians all set for visa-free Schengen travel
Peru's migration authority has started issuing its first biometric passports that will allow its citizens to undertake short-term visa-free travel within the Schengen area.
Merkel warns against Visegrad’s plans for a ‘reserve border system’
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned yesterday (14 February) against plans for a “reserve border system” devised by the Visegrad Four, the group of countries including Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
New European police centre launches to ‘help anti-terror coordination’
EU ministers open talks Monday (25 January) in Amsterdam on ways to save the Schengen passport-free zone from collapse, and tackle the jihadist scourge, as a new counter-terrorism centre in The Hague is launched.
EU should erect new Greek frontier to stop migrants, Hungarian PM says
The European Union should establish a new frontier on the northern border of Greece, because an agreement with Turkey will not be enough, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday (8 January).
EU to host Schengen talks with Sweden and Denmark
The EU said it will host emergency talks Wednesday (6 January) with Denmark, Sweden and Germany about new migrant border checks that have sparked fresh concerns about Europe's Schengen passport-free zone.