Two Cooperation Frameworks that will contribute to the joint European efforts to address EU security at external borders and migratory challenges will be launched by the European Commission together with Bulgaria and Romania.
The new decision has been confirmed through a statement published by the European Commission, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
Through a statement, the European Commission has stressed that the new changes will focus on support for reinforced measures in the area of border management, as well as asylum and reception, return system and enhanced police cooperation in the Schengen Zone as well as preparing to implement New Pact on Migration and Asylum in Bulgaria and Romania.
The Cooperation Frameworks take into account that the Schengen acquis will be fully applicable in Bulgaria and Romania and that, as from March 31 2024, controls at the internal air and sea borders shall be lifted. Against this background, it also includes actions to further reinforce cooperation between Member States, for instance, in the area of police cooperation, to address related cross-border challenges.
In addition, the Commission announced that it is initiating a new funding action of €85 million under the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) 2021-2027.
The funding aims to strengthen national capabilities at the EU’s external borders further. It means that both Balkan countries can apply for additional funds in order to extend or upgrade their border surveillance system, purchase transport vehicles, including those with thermo-vision capabilities, and buy operating equipment like movement detection and thermo-vision cameras, among others.
Pilot Projects to Better Manage Borders
The European Commission launched two pilot projects with Bulgaria and Romania in March 2023, while in October 2023, the Commission assessed the progress. According to the Commission, notable progress was made in speeding up asylum procedures, ensuring successful returns, managing borders effectively and also tightening cooperation with neighbouring countries, using the best methods available.
From March 31, Bulgaria and Romania will partially become members of the Schengen Zone, while the finalisation of this process in terms of land border accession is yet to happen. Last month, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her hopes that both Balkan countries will soon become part of the Schengen Area.
According to her, the European Commission has been convinced that Romania and Bulgaria are ready to become part of the Schengen Zone for several years.
Migration concerns led Austria to block Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Zone in December 2022, and in Bulgaria’s case, the accession was also blocked by the Netherlands.
January figures provided by the European Border Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, revealed that the number of irregular border crossings in the EU marked a notable decrease to about 14,000, down about one-third in comparison to December, with the Western Balkan route experiencing 30 per cent decrease in the Western Balkans.
