Strengthening the Schengen area The objectives of the European strategy for strengthening the Schengen area are to improve the application of common rules and to better deal with exceptional threats at external borders. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 16 September 2011, Schengen governance – strengthening the area […]
Establishment of the visa information system (VIS) – Stage 1 SUMMARY OF: Decision 2004/512/EC establishing the visa information system (VIS) WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION? Decision 2004/512/EC set up the visa information system (VIS) for sharing visa data between European Union (EU) Member States. This enables authorised national authorities to enter and update visa data and to consult these data electronically. Regulation (EU) […]
Visa requirements for non-EU nationals Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 — list of non-EU countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when entering the EU and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement It lists the countries covered by this legislation and those that are exempt. The regulation repeals and codifies the much-amended Regulation (EC) No 539/2001. Key Points The regulation develops from the […]
Non-EU nationals — rules for long-term residence Directive 2003/109/EC — status of non-EU nationals who are long-term residents It sets out the terms and conditions for granting — and withdrawing — long-term residence status to non-European Union citizens (third-country nationals*) living legally in a European Union (EU) country for at least 5 years. It determines their rights and the areas where they enjoy equal treatment […]
Integration of biometric features in passports and travel documents Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by EU countries It seeks to harmonise the security features, including biometric identifiers*, for EU country passports and travel documents to protect against their falsification. It was amended by Regulation (EC) No 444/2009 in 2009 mainly to define exceptions […]
Smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air — UN protocol Council decisions 2006/616/EC and 2006/617/EC on the conclusion of the UN protocol against the smuggling of migrants (by land, sea and air), supplementing the UN convention against transnational organised crime They formally approve the EU’s signing of the UN protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea or air to the extent that […]
EU measures to prevent the facilitation of illegal immigration Directive 2002/90/EC defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence Framework Decision 2002/946/JHA on the strengthening of the penal framework to prevent the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence Both aim to strengthen the system of sanctions preventing the facilitation of illegal immigration. Directive 2002/90/EC provides a common EU definition of what facilitation of […]
External EU action to address the refugee crisis SUMMARY OF: Joint Communication — JOIN(2015) 40 final — Refugee crisis in Europe: the role of EU External Action SUMMARY WHAT DOES THIS JOINT COMMUNICATION DO? — It describes the measures the EU is taking beyond its borders to tackle the refugee crisis. Precedence is being given to initiatives that have an immediate impact on migration flows, […]
Mutual information mechanism for national asylum and immigration measures Decision 2006/688/EC establishing a mutual information mechanism concerning EU countries’ measures in the areas of asylum and immigration It aims to improve the sharing of information between EU countries concerning national asylum and immigration measures. It sets up a formal information procedure between EU countries and the European Commission, with the aim of improving the coordination […]
European Union asylum procedures Directive 2013/32/EU — common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection It repeals Directive 2005/85/EC on minimum standards on procedures for granting and withdrawing refugee status in the European Union (EU). It sets up common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection (refugee status and the protection given to people who are not refugees but who would risk serious harm if […]
Refugees and stateless persons — common standards for qualification Directive 2011/95/EU — common standards for the qualification and international protection of refugees and stateless persons It aims to: lay down common standards for the identification of non-EU citizens or stateless persons genuinely in need of international protection in the EU, either as refugees or as beneficiaries of subsidiary protection*; ensure that those persons can use […]