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Stronger checks to be carried out at EU external borders

Xinhua, February 17, 2017 Adjust font size:

All nationals from countries inside or outside the European Union (EU) will be systematically checked against databases when they enter or leave the bloc, under a regulation voted on by the European Parliament on Thursday.

The new regulation, which amends the Schengen Borders Code (SBC), obliges EU member states to carry out systematic checks on all persons crossing EU external borders against databases of stolen and lost documents, the Schengen Information System (SIS) and other relevant EU databases.

The checks will be mandatory at all air, sea and land borders on both entry and exit.

The new change is the latest EU move to tackle terrorist threats, as demonstrated by the recent attacks in Brussels, Paris and Berlin, and the phenomenon of foreign fighters -- EU citizens joining terrorist groups in conflict zones, such as in Syria and Iraq.

Europeans becoming radicalized and travelling to fight in Iraq or Syria represent a growing threat to the EU. Most of the recent terrorist attacks in Europe were perpetrated by homegrown terrorists.

According EU statistics, an estimated 5,000 Europeans have joined conflicts in Iraq and Syria, with the majority of them originating in France, Britain, Germany and Belgium.

By adopting the new rules, Members of European Parliament (MEP) hope stronger checks prevent the phenomenon of returning foreign fighters and so-called "lone wolves."

"Securing our external borders means building up a strong shield against terrorism in Europe and preserving the right to life, which is the corollary of all rights...Systematic checks against databases are a mandatory step towards this minimum protection that we have a duty to ensure for our citizens," said MEP Monica Macovei.

However, according to the new regulation, if these systematic checks slow land and sea border traffic too much, EU countries may carry out only "targeted" checks instead, provided that a risk assessment has shown that this would not lead to threats to, inter alia, internal security or public policy.

The resolution was approved by 469 votes to 120, with 42 abstentions. As the EU's member states already gave the "green light" on Dec. 5, 2016, the legislation should enter into force in the near future. Endit