Today, the European Parliament voted to authorise interinstitutional negotiations on reforming the Schengen Borders Code.
With 370 votes in favour, 163 against, and 31 abstaining, MEPs authorised the start of negotiations with the Council on the final form of revised border rules for the Schengen free-movement area. The EP negotiating team will be headed by rapporteur Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, France).
The Parliament position seeks to clarify rules, strengthen free movement within the EU, and introduce targeted solutions to genuine threats. At the same time, MEPs want to ensure a coherent EU response in cases of large-scale public cross-border health emergencies, instead of a fragmented approach.
Background
The Parliament has called for a reform of the Schengen Borders Code “to strengthen mutual trust and solidarity, and to safeguard the integrity and full restoration of the Schengen area”, which currently encompasses 27 countries.
In a judgment in April 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that border controls re-installed because of serious threats may not exceed six months, and can only be extended when a new threat arises, unless there are exceptional circumstances putting the overall functioning of the Schengen area at risk.
The start of interinstitutional negotiations was announced at the beginning of the plenary session on October 2. A vote on the negotiations was scheduled after the requisite amount of MEPs decided to object to the decision. After today’s vote, talks with the Council can begin.
Source – EU Parliament