Comment on the Commission Proposal Amending the Schengen Borders Code (COM(2021) 891)

According to the Meijers Committee, the Commission’s proposal for an amendment of the Schengen Borders Code raises concerns as regards to the respect for fundamental freedoms, in particular the free movement of EU citizens, as well as fundamental rights, more specifically the right to asylum, the protection of personal data and non-discrimination. It also observes a return to intergovernmentalism, which contradicts the full integration of the Schengen acquis into the EU legal framework. The comment focuses on the impact of these amendments in the following areas: i) external borders, ii) internal borders, iii) controls within the area of free movement.