The action recommended covers areas such as registration procedures, sea border surveillance, border check procedures, risk analyses, human resources and training, infrastructure and equipment and international cooperation.
The recommendation acknowledges that the EU currently faces an unprecedented migratory and refugee crisis following a sharp increase in mixed migratory flows during 2015. This has meant that several member states have experienced difficulties in ensuring adequate external border controls in accordance with the Schengen acquis, as well as in the reception and processing of migrant arrivals.
Because of its geographical situation,...
and as result of the shift in migration routes as well as the overall increase in numbers, Greece has been particularly affected by these developments. The very large number of arrivals is such that the external border controls of any member state would be placed under severe pressure.
The recommendation also notes that Greece has taken a number of measures to deal with the situation, but that given the scale of the situation, further efforts are needed. The overall functioning of the Schengen area is at serious risk. The difficulties faced by Greece have an impact on the EU as a whole, and have to be resolved collectively.
Background
On 2 February 2016 the Commission adopted the
Schengen evaluation report on Greece and submitted to the Council a
recommendation to address specific deficiencies in the external border
management.
The report was carried out following an unannounced
on-site evaluation visit to Greek sea border sites (Chios and Samos
Islands) and land border sites (Orestiada, Fylakio, Kastanies, Nea
Vyssa) from 10 to 13 November 2015.
The Schengen evaluation
mechanism, established in October 2013 by the Council Regulation
1053/2013, provides for the verification of the application of the
Schengen rules through monitoring visits to a given member state by
teams with experts from the Commission and member states. After the
visits, that can be announced or unannounced, a Schengen Evaluation
Report is drawn up and agreed by the Schengen evaluation committee of
member state experts. If the report identifies any weaknesses in the
evaluated area of the Schengen acquis, the Commission presents to the
Council for adoption recommendations for remedial action.
The
Commission may also, under Article 19b of the Schengen Borders Code,
recommend that the evaluated member state take certain specific measures
with a view to ensuring compliance with this recommendation.
Where,
after three months from the adoption of the Council recommendation,
serious deficiencies persist and the measures taken have not proved
sufficient, the Commission may trigger the application of the procedure
provided for in article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code.
Under
article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code, the Commission may propose a
recommendation, to be adopted by the Council by qualified majority, to
reintroduce controls at all or specific parts of the border of one or
more member states as a matter of last resort. They may be introduced
for a period of up to six months. Controls can be prolonged for
additional six month periods up to a maximum duration of two years.
