A fair Europe starts at its borders

In an opinion adopted at its September plenary, the EESC took a closer look at the European Integrated Border Management Strategy (EIBM), and called for a shared strategy, improved coordination, and fundamental rights protection.

Ensuring the effectiveness of European border management is not only a matter of security. It's also about making sure we uphold the values that the European Union is based on. The EESC firmly believes that we need a clear plan to improve the process at our external borders.

The EIBM aims to enhance coordination between EU agencies and instruments and those of the Member States tasked with border management responsibilities. This must include a robust focus on information exchange and the cultivation of a common border culture guaranteeing the protection of human rights.

While national border institutions play a pivotal role, the EESC raises a significant concern that the strategy fails to specify the commitments of national border institutions. Cristian Pîrvulescu, the rapporteur for the opinion, and José Antonio Moreno Diaz, the co-rapporteur, consider it important that the EIBM framework be used to require from each Member State a fundamental rights plan in the area of border management, complementing Frontex's activities.

The Committee also regrets that in the EIBM, the practice of pushbacks is not properly acknowledged and tackled and asks the Commission to devise clear plans in this respect and require national border institutions to avoid these unacceptable practices. Respect for fundamental rights is a legal obligation for all EU and national institutions and should be treated accordingly. Under no circumstances should EU foreign policy or cooperation policy be conditional on the cooperation of countries of origin in return and readmission processes. (gb)