2014 establishing, as part of the Internal Security Fund, the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa - Main contents

Summary of Legislation
Legislative text

1. Summary of Legislation

Financial support for EU’s external borders and the common visa policy: Internal Security Fund

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 515/2014 establishing, as part of the Internal Security Fund, the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa policy

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

The regulation, known as the ISF-Borders regulation, creates a funding instrument and lays down the objectives, the budget and procedures for implementing the eligible actions for the period 2014-2020.

The general objective of the fund is to contribute to a high level of security in the EU while facilitating legitimate travel.

This is made possible by ensuring the efficient management of the EU’s external borders and the effective processing of visas for the Schengen area (a border-free area comprising 22 EU countries and 4 associated countries — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).

KEY POINTS

The ISF-Borders Fund aims to support:

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the common visa policy to make legitimate travel easier by ensuring a high-quality service for visa applicants and equal treatment of nationals from outside the Schengen area, as well as to tackle illegal migration;
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integrated border management, including the use of common standards and information exchange between Schengen countries and with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (commonly referred to as Frontex) to ensure
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  a high level of control and protection of the external borders
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  smooth crossing of the external borders and
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  guaranteeing access to international protection for those needing it.

The instrument funds actions to:

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strengthen external border checks to monitor the crossing of external borders;
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gradually establish an integrated management system for external borders, based on solidarity and responsibility, through for example
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  surveillance of external border systems and
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  cooperation between border guards (including in the maritime border area) on customs, migration and asylum;

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promote the common policy on visas and other short-stay residence permits;
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set up and run IT systems supporting the common visa policy and border checks, and improve awareness of the situation at external borders;
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prevent and tackle illegal immigration in cooperation with non-EU countries.

Examples of eligible actions include:

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infrastructure, IT systems and equipment for border control and processing of visa applications;
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studies, training and pilot projects on operational standards and best practices in the field;
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actions relating to operational cooperation between EU and non EU-countries;
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projects outside the EU or Schengen countries to improve surveillance systems, to ensure cooperation with the European border surveillance system Eurosur.

The fund also supports actions improving consular coverage and promoting standardised practices for issuing Schengen visas.

The implementation of the fund is mainly entrusted to the participating EU countries and the 4 Schengen associated countries. The national programmes define the funding priorities by addressing the fund’s objectives. The allocation of resources was based on a number of criteria relating to the type of external border (maritime, land and international airports), taking into account the travel flows and the level of risks and threats. The allocation of funds to specific objectives under the national programmes relate to the challenges and needs of participating EU countries. A table setting out the amounts constituting the basis for EU countries’ national programmes is included in the regulation’s annex.

A part of the fund is managed centrally by the Commission in the form of Union actions which includes assistance to address urgent and specific needs in the event of an emergency situation (emergency assistance).

The fund is complemented by the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management (ISF-Police Fund), set up by Regulation (EU) No 513/2014.

BudgetThe total initial allocation for ISF-Borders (2014-20) was €2.76 billion (in current prices).

Implementation

The so-called ‘Horizontal Regulation’ (Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 — see relevant summary) contains the general rules and procedures for implementing this fund.

Extension of the fund to the Schengen associated countries

Agreements have been negotiated between the EU and the 4 Schengen associated countries allowing their participation in the ISF-Borders Fund.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2014.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

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Internal Security Fund — borders and visa (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) No 515/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing, as part of the Internal Security Fund, the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa and repealing Decision No 574/2007/EC (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, pp. 143–167)

Contents

1.

Summary of Legislation

2.

Legislative text