European Parliament working to strengthen management of borders and travel security

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved plans on Friday set forth on July 6 to set up an EU border control system that brings together the European Union’s border agency, Frontex, and national border management authorities.

The plan calls for national authorities to continue the management of their borders on a daily basis. Should a situation become untenable for that specific border agency, however, a member state will be able to receive help from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency to rapidly deploy teams of agents to assist in border management.

“The European Border and Coast Guard regulation will ensure that the EU external borders are safer and better managed,” Latvian MEP Artis Pabriks said. “This is not a silver bullet that can solve the migration crisis that the EU is facing today or fully restore trust in the Schengen area, but it is very much needed first step.”

The European Parliament is also negotiating a rule change that would make traveling abroad for terrorist purposes a crime in all EU countries. The rule would include such actions as training, incitement or financing of any terrorist-related activities. Additionally, European Parliament is negotiating to have the details of all EU nationals checked against databases of lost or stolen documents at all border crossings.