Evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis

The European Parliament adopted by 526 votes to 101, with 55 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council regulation on the establishment of an evaluation mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis.

Parliament approved, unamended, the Council draft and the joint statement by Parliament, the Council and the Commission, annexed to this resolution.

Interinstitutional statement: the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission welcome the adoption of the Regulation amending the Schengen Borders Code in order to provide for common rules on the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders in exceptional circumstances and of the Regulation on the establishment of an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis. They believe that these new mechanisms address adequately the call of the European Council in its Conclusions of 24 June 2011 for:

• an enhancement of the cooperation and the mutual trust between the Member States in the Schengen area;
• an effective and reliable monitoring and evaluation system in order to ensure the enforcement of common rules and the strengthening, adaptation and extension of the criteria based on the EU acquis.

The draft statement recalls that Europe's external borders must be effectively and consistently managed, on the basis of common responsibility, solidarity and practical cooperation.

The three institutions underline that this new evaluation system is an EU-based mechanism and that it will cover all aspects of the Schengen acquis and involve experts from the Member States, the Commission and relevant EU agencies. They understand that any future proposal from the Commission for amending this evaluation system would be submitted to the consultation of the European Parliament in order to take into consideration its opinion, to the fullest extent possible, before the adoption of a final text.