European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Costica Dumbrava
Towards a common EU approach to lifting coronavirus-related restrictions on freedom of movement
In an effort to tackle the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak, EU Member States started reinstating restrictions on the freedom of movement in October 2020. Continue reading
Screening of third-country nationals at the EU external borders [EU Legislation in Progress]
In September 2020, the Commission put forward a new pact on migration and asylum, setting out a comprehensive approach to European Union (EU) migration policies that links external borders, asylum, return systems, the Schengen area of free movement and the external dimension of migration. Continue reading
Tracking key coronavirus restrictions on movement and social life
All the EU Member States adopted emergency measures in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Continue reading
Lifting coronavirus restrictions: The role of therapeutics, testing, and contact-tracing apps
The key to tackling the coronavirus pandemic is a combination of safe and readily available vaccines that provide everyone with immunity, as well as effective treatments that work to cure the disease in all infected people. Continue reading
States of emergency in response to the coronavirus crisis: Situation in certain Member States II
Member States have adopted a range of emergency measures in response to the unprecedented public health crises generated by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Tracking mobile devices to fight coronavirus
Governments around the world have turned to digital technologies to tackle the coronavirus crisis. One of the key measures has been to use mobile devices to monitor populations and track individuals who are infected or at risk. Continue reading
The impact of coronavirus on Schengen borders
The Schengen Area consists of 26 countries that have agreed to remove regular checks at their internal borders in order to facilitate the free and unrestricted movement of people: 22 EU Member States (Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden), and 4 associated countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein). Continue reading
Temporary border controls in the Schengen area
Free movement across internal borders is one of the EU’s most important achievements, with important benefits for EU citizens. The Schengen Borders Code (or Schengen Code) specifies the conditions under which Member States can introduce temporary checks at their internal borders in cases of serious threats to public policy or internal security. Continue reading
Interoperability between EU border and security information systems [EU Legislation in Progress]
To strengthen EU external border management and enhance internal security, the European Commission has made several proposals to upgrade and expand European border and security information systems. Continue reading
Revision of the Community Code on Visas [EU Legislation in Progress]
The European Union Code on Visas is one of the core elements of the EU’s visa policy. It lays down the procedures and conditions for issuing short-stay visas for third-country nationals. Continue reading
Acquisition and loss of citizenship in EU Member States: Key trends and issues
Access to citizenship status is an important prerequisite for enjoying rights and privileges, such as migration and political rights, as well as for developing a sense of identity and belonging. Since the establishment of Union citizenship, all persons who are nationals or citizens of an EU Member State enjoy the status of EU citizenship, which confers on them a number of additional rights and privileges. Continue reading
European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) [EU Legislation in Progress]
The European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) is responsible for the operational management of the three large-scale EU information systems: the Schengen Information System (SIS II), the Visa Information System (VIS), and Eurodac. Continue reading
European information systems in the area of justice and home affairs: An overview
Written by Costica Dumbrava, High levels of irregular migration and the increase in transnational terrorist activities have pushed the EU to take concerted measures to strengthen its external borders and to enhance internal security. The revision and development of information systems for border management and law enforcement has been a key aspect of this response. … Continue reading
European Union Agency for Asylum [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Costica Dumbrava (2nd edition), The European Asylum Support Office provides Members States with support in fulfilling their obligations under the Common European Asylum System. Since its establishment in 2010, the support office’s role has been progressively expanded in order to reflect changes in the EU’s legal framework on asylum and to respond to … Continue reading
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