Eddy Vyncke ∴’s Post

Strengthening Europe’s internal security with the EES and ETIAS By Francois Laruelle, Director of the ETIAS Central Unit Division, Frontex In today’s interconnected world, ensuring the security and integrity of our borders is paramount. The European Union, with its vast Schengen Area where internal border controls have been abolished, faces unique challenges in this sphere. https://lnkd.in/e6Bq5heM

Strengthening Europe’s internal security with the EES and ETIAS By Francois Laruelle, Director of the ETIAS Central Unit Division, Frontex In today’s interconnected world, ensuring the security and integrity of our borders is paramount. The European Union, with its vast Schengen Area where internal border controls have been abolished, faces unique challenges in this sphere. https://lnkd.in/e6Bq5heM

The 🇪🇺 European Council has unanimously approved 🇧🇬 #Bulgaria and 🇷🇴#Romania's inclusion in the border-free #schengen area! Controls on ✈️ air and 🚢sea borders lift from March 2024, with land border discussions ongoing. The Schengen area currently offers unrestricted travel within a territory of 26 countries (of which 22 are EU countries). It includes more than 400 million citizens, making it the largest area of #freemovement in the world. That's a historic moment, enhancing the Schengen area's strength. However, a crucial step will be to remove also 🚗 land #bordercontrol. Congratulations to Bulgaria and Romania for this significant step toward easier freedom of movement. 🌐🇪🇺 #schengen #europeanunion #Freedomofmovement #eu

Limiting Schengen access for Bulgaria to only air and sea transport while keeping internal road borders closed will hinder the free movement of goods, logistical challenges will not be solved, transportation costs will not be decreased. This partial integration would also undermine the principle of equal treatment among Schengen members, creating a two-tier system within the area. Additionally, maintaining border controls on roads may impede the economic and social benefits that come with the full implementation of Schengen. This decision would not have any significant economic impact on Bulgaria. Around 75% of EU trade in goods relies on road transportation, and maintaining controls on internal road borders may negate anticipated economic advantages. Eurostat data shows that in 2020, intra-EU trade in goods amounted to almost 3 trillion euros. If road borders remain subject to checks, the efficient movement of goods — a milestone of the European economy — might be compromised. This could result in delays, increased costs for Bulgarian businesses engaged in cross-border trade, and a potential impediment to economic growth. In essence, the partial integration may fall short of delivering the comprehensive economic benefits that full Schengen participation could provide for Bulgaria and the broader EU. Oh wait, has the situation not been the same for the past decade?

Some quick tips from CBP to keep your international travel stress-free.

Starting next Monday, Schengen member Germany is reintroducing border checks at all of its nine land borders. While Schengen is based on the idea of free movement between states, temporary border checks can be reintroduced for a maximum of six months in exceptional circumstances. The new German border checks are intended to curb irregular migration and prevent terrorism. Yet the measures seem like a quick fix to restore the public feeling of security after a series of Islamist attacks. Created by Sebastian Graeff & Hanna Huld.

Weekend deaths highlight dangers of crossing border As temperatures soar and summer approaches, the treacherous conditions of the desert are proving increasingly dangerous https://wp.me/p9gxja-39q OIPOL & OIJUST Operating in USA / Communication by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (#CBP), 06/03/2024. Cooperation and edition Oipol & Oijust. June 04, 2024.- EL PASO, Texas – The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector is seeing an increase in heat and dehydration injuries and fatalities among migrants attempting to cross the border illegally in the El Paso Sector as temperatures have risen above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the past few days. https://lnkd.in/gfxKiBsB

US Customs and Border Protection operates 15 preclearance facilities in airports around the globe, the majority being in Canadian airports. This insightful article from CNN explains how they work and why they exist: https://lnkd.in/eadJ26rK

Schengen Expansion: New Chapter for Business 🚢✈️ but is there more ? 🤔 With Bulgaria’s ascent to Schengen’s air and sea zones, we’re poised to revitalize regional and international trade. However, the absence of full land mobility still shadows over potential gains. The Ministry of economy and industry’s report of €600M lost annually underscores the urgency for complete integration. As this unfolds, CTP Bulgaria remains committed to supporting every opportunity for growth and innovation in the business landscape. #BusinessBeyondBorders #StrategicGrowth #CTP #Bulgaria #Schengen 🌍💡

And next year, we will mark the 75th anniversary of Türkiye joining the Council of Europe, first new member, following Greece, after the 10 founding members established the origins of European Union in May 1949. Germany, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Poland and other now EU counties joined CoE between 1950 and 2007. One month before CoE, NATO was established with US, Canada and 10 European states, which Türkiye became a member in 1952, along with Greece. West Germany and Spain, for example joined in 1955 and 1982, respectively. EU is a worthwhile economic and political project post WWII, one that is still evolving. Overthrow of the Salazar regime in Portugal and the collapse of military rule in Greece in 1974, together with the death of Franco in Spain in 1975 marked the end of these dictatorships in Western Europe. Shortly after, Greece joined the EU in 1981 and Portugal and Spain in 1986. After the fall of Berlin Wall, beginning from 1989, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, among others got rid of their military regimes and started the democratization process. In 2004, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland joined the EU, followed by Romania and Bulgaria in 2007. The last military regime in Türkiye was in 1980 and by 1983 a civil prime minister was elected. I'd be remiss if we talk about democracy and didn't mention women's rights. Turkish women have their struggles but if we're in the business of box ticking, in 1930, they gained universal suffrage, earlier than France and Bulgaria in 1944, Italy in 1945, Romania in 1946, Malta in 1947, UN Decleration of Human rights in 1948, Belgium in 1948, Greece in 1952, Cyprus in 1960, Portugal in 1976 and Liechtenstein in 1984. But I digress, congratulations to Bulgaria and Romania 👏 👏