#: What is Border Control? #: What is Schengen? #: The "four-tier access-control model" #: Border Management: The Big Picture Frontex at a Glance #: The Role of Frontex #: Situation Monitoring and Risk Analysis #: Joint Operations at the Borders 700 million #: Trainingtravellers crossed the EU’s external borders in 2013. Of those, only 107 000, or 0.015%, did so outside of normal border controls Frontex at a Glance 700 million travellers crossed the EU’s external borders in 2013. Of those, only 107 000, or 0.015%, did so outside of normal border controls What is Frontex? What is Frontex? Frontex at a Glance Frontex at a Glance What is Frontex? The full name of Frontex is the European Agency for the Management of Operational Frontex is the EU border control agency. It helps the Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union. countries of Europe manage their borders and keep up Frontex was established by Council Regulation (EC) 2007/2004 on 26 October, 2004 and has its headquarters in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. with changing trends in border control. 4 www.frontex.europa.eu 5 What is Border Control What is Border Control Frontex at a Glance Frontex at a Glance What is Border Control? Details of a passport stamp confirming border crossing: Throughout the ages, civilisations, empires and nations have marked the boundaries of their territories to control the passage of people, to collect taxes and to defend their lands. Entry stamp Each stamp contains In the modern world, checks are performed There are three types of border — land, sea the abbreviation A symbol shows which type of the Member on all travellers crossing borders to ensure and air (known in border control as green, of border was crossed: land, State or Schengen- sea, air or railway. they meet all the requirements for legal blue and white borders, respectively). Associated Country. entry. Border control also helps to combat Green and blue borders refer to the land cross-border crimes, such as trafficking in and sea boundaries between officially human beings and the smuggling of drugs recognised Border Crossing Points (BCPs) and other goods. It prevents the import on major roads and rail lines or at sea ports of illegal arms, counterfeit medicines and at which all legitimate crossings should The number on the stamp Entry stamps have identifies the officer endangered species, among other things. take place. The green or blue borders may square corners and responsible for the decision. be monitored by modern surveillance show a square with an arrow going in. There is much more to border technology or human patrols. The term Exit stamp control than meets the eye. ‘air borders’ is rather misleading, as the controls are not at the borders shown on maps: they are conducted at the passport- The date always appears in red control booths at international airports. followed by a security code which changes at least once a month. Each country has its own security It is at these border crossing points that code, issued by the EU. Frontex does much of its work in assisting the Member States of the European Union The name of the border to effectively manage their borders. Border crossing point is specified on the stamp. guards make sure that people crossing the Exit stamps have border have the necessary identification rounded corners and show a square with and the right to enter the country or an arrow coming out. territory. This can be a time-consuming process and queues are not uncommon at BCPs during peak travel periods. That is why Frontex invests a lot of time and effort in seeking to get through with a minimum of fuss all about making the border tight enough out new technology to improve the border and delay. Others, however, try to bypass to detect people abusing the system but crossing experience of travellers. border controls either at BCPs by using fluid enough to let legitimate travellers The overwhelming majority of people false documents or hiding in vehicles, or through as quickly as possible. This is crossing borders do so legally and with between BCPs by crossing green or blue a huge task for border authorities, and legitimate reasons, such as for holidays borders on foot or by boat without being one that Frontex was established to help or business trips. These travellers want checked. Modern border management is them achieve. 6 www.frontex.europa.eu 7 What is Schengen? What is Schengen? Frontex at a Glance Frontex at a Glance What is Schengen? The free movement of people is a central achievement of the EU. In order to advance this freedom the Member States agreed to create a free-travel area between them. Previously, crossing multiple borders caused delays and hampered the movement of people and goods within the Union. The Schengen Area: Therefore, the Member States decided its own borders — but for the Schengen 22 EU Member States + to eliminate routine internal border Area to work, all its members had to 4 Schengen-Associated controls. On 14 June 1985, in the village of show trust and solidarity. To cultivate this Countries = free internal movement for more than Schengen in Luxembourg, an agreement spirit, strict rules were laid down for new half a billion people. was signed by five countries (Luxemburg, countries to join the area. France, the Netherlands, Belgium and West Germany) that started one of the Before a new country can join, it has to most significant changes in the history have its readiness assessed by evaluators of border management: internal border from the other Member States. These controls between European countries assessments include the quality of its were to be removed. The area inside the border controls and visa systems, respect resulting external borders was named the for human rights, police cooperation with Schengen Area. other countries and protection of personal data, as well as judicial cooperation with The decision to remove internal border other member countries. controls was also politically sensitive. Member States’ citizens valued their In 2015, four countries were waiting to sovereignty — the right of each to control join the Schengen Area: Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania. After joining, each member country is evaluated at least Not all EU Member every five years to ensure it maintains States are in the the necessary standards. But the removal Schengen Area: of internal borders did not leave a single external border. What was left was a series The UK and Ireland decided to of separate sea and land external borders, retain their border controls. sometimes with several authorities Similarly, not all members of having overlapping areas of responsibility. the Schengen area are in the In all cases, Member States bordering EU. These are called Schengen- non-EU countries remain responsible for Associated Countries and are controlling those borders. Frontex was The Schengen Area Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway set up to channel the practical solidarity EU Schengen States and Switzerland. shown by the EU with the countries most Non-Schengen EU States affected by migratory flows. Non-EU Schengen States 8 www.frontex.europa.eu 9 Who has their together with a European citizen. - Third-country nationals holding Schengen Borders Code Frontex at a Glance passport stamped? special permits because they live in - All ‘third-country nationals’ a border area (on the basis of Local (non-EU nationals) with the Border Traffi c Agreements). exception of citizens of “European - Heads of state and other dignitaries micro-states” — Andorra, if the border authority has been Monaco and San Marino. offi cially informed of their expected arrival through diplomatic channels Who is exempt? - Aircraft crews, including pilots. Schengen Borders Code - Seamen stopping at port (as long - Family members of EU and Schengen as they do not leave the port area), The Schengen Borders Code is a document outlining states’ citizens who have a valid including the crews and passengers residence permit and are travelling of some cruise ships. the rules and responsibilities for countries within the Schengen Area. It requires all participating states to “remove passport and visa) before boarding. All all and any obstacles to the free movement non-EU citizens wishing to enter the of people and goods across borders” within Schengen Area at an external border must the area. Thus, road, rail and air passengers have their passports stamped, although are free from “systematic” passport checks. there are some exceptions (see box). In The code also prohibits systematic controls exceptional circumstances, if a Member for customs and tax purposes, although State believes there is a serious threat security checks are still allowed and are to “public policy or internal security”, the carried out at airports, for instance. The Schengen Borders Code permits that Schengen Borders Code also specifies country’s authorities to reinstate internal the conditions under which permission border controls for a limited period. This may be granted to enter the Schengen sometimes happens as a reaction to Citizens of EU countries can travel freely with Area by crossing an external border. The their cat, dog or ferret if it has a European pet intense migrant flow or during large-scale requirements are: passport. This passport is available from any sports events, such as the Olympics and – to possess a valid travel document; authorised veterinarian and must contain details international football championships, or – to possess a valid visa, if required; of a valid anti-rabies vaccination. National high-level political events. – to have a justified purpose for your stay rules apply to the issuance of pet passports, and to have sufficient funds to support including for other species.