3. SCHENGEN TODAY
• all EU members :
minus:
UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia
plus: (non-EU countries)
Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
8. 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
9. 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.
10. 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
11. CROATIA IN SCHENGEN –WHEN?
Croatia is expected to fulfill the criteria after 2018
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
Common list of countries whose nationals require visas
Frontex becomes: European Border and Coast Guard Agency
“Schengen Acquis” or Schengen rules for controlling land, sea and air borders, issuing short-stay Schengen visas, police collaboration as well as protection of personal data
