Monika Begovic PhDInternational Conference, October 2016

Perl-Nennig

SCHENGEN – TODAY AND TOMORROW

SCHENGEN TODAY

SCHENGEN TODAY

• all EU members :

minus: UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia

plus: (non-EU countries) Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland

SCHENGEN AGREEMENT

Most important EU legislative measures related to Schengen area:• abolition of internal border checks• uniform control of external borders• freedom of movement – freedom to travel• establishing Schengen information system (SIS) • establishing Frontex – EU border agency• uniform visa for Schengen area

SCHENGEN – MAIN BENEFITS

• freedom of movement as one of the most valued accomplishments of EU integration process is enhanced

• benefits for cross-border commuters• positive effects on trade and economic integration

– increased imports and exports• Improved cooperation and exchange of

information among police of member states (SIS) – positive effects on security and crime

SCHENGEN - FUTURE

Do we need reintroduction of permanent border controls? What are the consequences?

One of the possible scenarios:increased prices of imported goods increased expenses of households reduce consumption and investment higher wages mean labour costs increase and prices rise further weakens the international competitiveness of an economy export deteriorates

REINSTALLED BORDERS –RESPONSE TO EUROPEAN MIGRANT CRISIS

SCHENGEN - REFORMS

• Current refugee crisis revealed that Schengen system still lacks an appropriate joint asylum policy

• A sound Common European Immigration and Asylum System will remove unequal pressure on specific states

SCHENGEN - REFORMS

Dublin Regulation:every member state is responsible for examining an application for asylum, so the state that has issued the individual(s) with a temporary residence permit bares the responsibility. The country that the asylum seeker first applies for asylum is responsible for either accepting or rejecting asylum, and the seeker may not restart the process in another jurisdiction.

SCHENGEN – CHALLENGES

• Terrorism• Migration waves• Poverty• Climate change• Asylum policy• Lack of mutual trust among member states

populist trends as result of fear and insecurity• Need for a common foreign policy vision in the EU

CROATIA IN SCHENGEN –WHEN?

Croatia is expected to fulfill the criteria after 2018

SCHENGEN - CRITERIA

Criteria to become a Schengen member country:• To control external borders on behalf of other

Schengen countries• Police to collaborate with other Schengen member

countries • To be equiped in applying ‘Schengen acquis’• To be able to join and use Schengen Information

System - SIS

CROATIA IN SCHENGEN – WHAT IS ACHIEVED?

• European Commission secured funds for Croatia to fulfill the standards in the amount of 120 million Euro, and so far 80% of the amount was used,

but criteria are still not satisfied, especially in the protection of personal information and external borders –very sensitive geopolitical position of Croatia at the borders of the Western Balkan countries

CROATIA IN SCHENGEN –WHEN?

• Schengen as a carrot that triggers reforms in countries that are still not members to continue working on satisfying standards and criteria

Why Schengen...

Croatian – Slovenian border – winter 2016, Bregana

Thank you