Smart border package

Three referrals: COM(2013) 95 final , COM(2013) 96 final and COM(2013) 97 final

Key points

• The EESC welcomes the underlying approach of the "smart borders" package, which aims to strike the right balance between the need to encourage mobility and to appease the security concerns that seem to have gained ground across the EU in recent years.

• The EESC wishes to stress that the European Union's identity is explicitly and implicitly associated with openness and interconnectedness not only within but also across borders. With this in mind, the EU institutions and Member States should make sure that the new systems do not affect the travel and willingness to travel to the EU of third-country nationals.
• The EESC invites all relevant actors and institutions to consider fundamental rights as the two systems are further developed and implemented.