d.5.9. inex-frontex workshop ii (mobility and security at ... · panel four concentrated on the eu...
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D.5.9. INEX-FRONTEX workshop II (Mobility and secur ity at the EU`s external borders)
Deliverable submitted June 2010 (M27) in fulfilment of requirements of the FP7 Project, Converging and Conflicting Ethical Values in the Internal/External
Security Continuum in Europe (INEX)
International Peace PO Box 9229 Grønland T: +47 22 54 77 00 www.inexproject.eu
Research Institute, Oslo NO-0134 Oslo, Norway F: +47 22 54 77 01
Work Package 5: Deliverable D.5.9.
Mobility and Security at the EU’s Eastern Borders.
17th
May 2010, Collegium Civitas
The purpose of the workshop was to gain a better understanding of the evolving relationships in the JHA area between the EU and its closest Eastern neighbours: Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus, through the particular prism of border management. Drawing on some of the key themes that arose from the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting of February 2010, where 29 measures for ‘reinforcing the protection of the external borders and combating illegal immigration’ were laid out, the workshop explored the ways in which the EU is endeavouring to strengthen its Eastern borders, with particular reference to the evolving role of FRONTEX. The workshop sought to explore those measures under development that endeavour to better identify ‘those migrants who are in need of international protection’ in mixed flows of regular and irregular migration towards the EU’s outer borders.1 In this context WP 5 was interested to learn about current levels of cooperation between the EU and the three Eastern neighbours in the area of border security and migration management. An emphasis was also set on the relations between the three Eastern neighbours and FRONTEX. Furthermore, the workshop objective was also to further demarcate the research area, define key questions prior to the fieldwork phase of the project and to consolidate contacts and research partners.
The workshop brought together researchers and practitioners (from EU member states as well
as Belarus and Moldova) working in the field of border management, European Neighbourhood
Policy, mobility and cross-border issues.
The workshop began with an introductory panel presenting the evolution of EU policies towards
the borders. It was proposed that the current process may be defined as an externalisation of
internal EU policies, led by several border services which are responsible for border protection.
In one speakers opinion there should be one single service in order to provide fast border
control checks and an effective pass of information to other authorities. This would lead to well
managed borders, which would provide protection against external threats and at the same
time allow neighbouring countries to “breathe” via valuable contacts with the external world
(ex. trade cooperation, facilitation of travel).
1 Council conclusions on 29 measures for reinforcing the protection of the external borders and combating illegal
Immigration, 2998th JUSTICE and HOME AFFAIRS Council meeting Brussels, 25 and 26 February 2010 http://www.frontex.europa.eu/gfx/frontex/files/jha_council/2998_jha_council_26-26feb2010.pdf
The introductory paper was followed by a presentation which gave the participants a broad
overview on the cooperation of Frontex with Third Countries and on scenarios for cooperation
with the Eastern neighbours (among others: building Migration Partnerships, Mobility
Partnerships, The Söderköping Process). The panel included a paper which discussed the impact
of EU immigration policy on the transformations in EaP states. Statistics show that the EU is not
the primary migration destination for citizens from EaP states (but rather Russia, due to
language reasons, the visa free regime and the relative ease to find a job) and that the EU is not
a settlement destination (the length of stay is approximately 1 year). The EU has had little
influence on political transformations in EaP states due to the lack of sufficient incentives.
Incentives which could encourage changes are: opening the EU labour market or offering large
structural funds (as they were offered to former EU candidate states as Poland).
The second panel focused on cooperation between Polish ministries and agencies with EaP
states. Discussion centred on the following key subjects - cooperation between Polish Border
Guard officials and Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine as well as the situation on the Polish/EU’s
eastern external border.
Cooperation between the Polish Border Guards and Ukrainian, Moldovan and Belarusian Border
Services is well developed (cooperation with Ukraine is a model: joint patrols, Liaison Officers,
common trainings, passes for local border movement have been successfully functioning since
2009). Cooperation is improved by annual meetings on the level of Chief Border Delegates (held
separately with Ukraine and Belarus), which is regarded as a good forum for exchange of
information and the solving of outstanding problems.
Panel three gave a perspective from the EaP states on cooperation with the EU, Frontex and
EUBAM. It was a general point that the capacities of the neighbouring states to combat serious
cross border crime is somewhat limited and that more cooperation with the EU and member
states’ agencies is vital. Having said this, Moldova is the most advanced of the Eastern
neighbours in its relations with the EU on border-relevant issues and much has been achieved
over the course of a year. In the context of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement visa-free
travel stands close to the top of the agenda. Moldova has implemented biometric passports
(with chip, facial image and finger prints) in 2008. This presentation was followed by a paper on
main ENPI programmes which the State Border Committee takes part in: the flagship initiative
«Integrated Border Management (IBM)» of the EU initiative Eastern Partnership (assistance in
the development of infrastructure of the Belarus Border Staff Training Institute to be
established; pilot project on the establishment of IBM system at the Belarus-Ukraine border
which provides for provision of technical equipment to green border and border checkpoints on
both sides of the border as well as organization of joint trainings on different aspects of border
security; demarcation of the Belarus-Ukraine state border [after the adoption of the Law of the
Republic of Belarus on ratification of the Treaty on the State Border between the Republic of
Belarus and Ukraine]; in-depth English learning by Belarus border guards); the ENPI Cross-Border
Cooperation Programme «Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus»; the ENPI Cross-Border Cooperation
Programme «Poland-Belarus-Ukraine»; the EU Technical Assistance Information Exchange
Instrument (TAIEX).
The panel was concluded by a presentation on EUBAM and its role in the region. Capacity
Building: recommendations at central level on institutional development, training and advice
at regional and local levels on EU best practices on border control and anticorruption; Cross-
Border Information Sharing between Moldova and Ukraine border agencies (CBSAR, PAIES, OIE
based on the 2006 Brussels Protocols); Joint Border Control Operations; Facilitation of
international cooperation between EUBAM partner services, EU agencies and EU Member
States; Jointly Operated Border Crossing Points; Coordinated and Joint Patrols.
Panel four concentrated on the EU visa policy towards Eastern Neighbourhood countries. Public
opinion surveys show that the enlargements of 2004 and 2007 and membership of countries
closest to the eastern border have caused a creation of barriers which had an influence on
contacts with the Eastern neighbours. The new visa procedure and price has also become a large
issue. There is a definite need for a new visa dialogue and for creating new roadmaps.
The seminar was concluded by a presentation which highlighted a few issues and questions for
further reflection – does everybody understand the words: “border” and “territory” in the same
way? This is one of the questions that WP5 will give further attention to.
Conclusions:
- New incentives from the EU’s side should be foreseen for EaP states in order for them to
conduct long and difficult political changes.
- A better balance should be reached between reducing to a minimum the current time
and resource consuming border controls whilst excluding safety risks to the highest
possible degree. WP5 is looking forward to the outcomes of the Integrated Border
Management Panel held in Brussels in late June 2010.
- Further exchange of information between border guards from all EU member states
should be held in order to improve security in the EU.
Marcin Zaborwski (Collegium Civitas), Jonas Gräns (PRIO), Szymon Ananicz (Centre for Eastern Studies),
Julio Vijande (Frontex), Peter Hobbing (CEPS)
Dariusz Stola (Collegium Civitas), Bogumił Rybak (Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration),
Aleksandra Świątecka (Polish Border Guards)
Peter Hobbing (CEPS), Andrei Kalinkin (Belarus State Border Committee),
Averian Borga (Border Guard Service of Moldova), Sławomir Pichor (EUBAM)
Participants: Szymon Ananicz Center for Eastern Studies Didier Bigo Centre d’études sur les conflits, Paris Averian Borga Deputy Head of the Department for International Relations and European
Integration HQ Border Guard Service of Moldova Jonas Gräns PRIO Peter Hobbing CEPS Julien Jeandesboz Centre d’études sur les conflits,Paris Andrei Kalinkin Deputy Head of International Cooperation Department of the Belarus State Border Committee Jadwiga Koralewicz Collegium Civitas Rafał Kownacki The Polish Institute of International Affairs Sławomir Pichor EUBAM Head of Operations Karol Reczkin European Parliament Bogumił Rybak Ministry of Interior and Administration, Poland Dariusz Stola Collegium Civitas Aleksandra Świątecka Polish Border Guards, Head of International Co-operation Bureau Olga Wasilewska Batory Foundation Julio Vijande FRONTEX, External Relations Unit Marcin Zaborowski Collegium Civitas Anna Zielińska Collegium Civitas
Mobility and Security at the EU’s Eastern Borders Collegium Civitas, 17 May 2010.
Programme
09.45 Welcome, Marcin Zaborowski (Collegium Civitas) and Jonas Gräns (PRIO)
10.00 – 11.30 Panel One
− The Evolution of EU policies towards the Borders – the External Dimension of Internal Security – Peter Hobbing (CEPS)
− Strengthening the role of FRONTEX/Cooperation with Third Countries – Tim Cooper
(FRONTEX)
− Labour mobility and the Eastern Partnership's transformative agenda – Szymon Ananicz
(Centre for Eastern Studies)
Chair: Marcin Zaborowski
11.30 – 11.45 Coffee break
11.45 – 13.15 Panel Two
− Perspectives from the Border: cooperation with FRONTEX, Belarus and Ukraine - Aleksandra Świątecka (Polish Border Guards)
− The Role of the EU Member States – Official (Ministry of Interior Affairs, Migration Policy Department, Warsaw)
Chair: Dariusz Stola (Collegium Civitas)
13.15 – 14.30 Lunch in Palace of Culture Restaurant
14.30 – 16.00 Panel Three
− Sławomir Pichor (EUBAM) –
− Averian Borga (Deputy Head of the Department for International Relations and European Integration HQ Border Guard Service of Moldova) -
− Belarus Border Guards participation in the Eastern Partnership and ENPI programmes. Andrei Kaklin (Deputy Head of International Cooperation Department of the Belarus State Border Committee) -
Chair: Peter Hobbing
16.00 – 16.15 Coffee break
16.15 – 17.45 Panel Four
− EU visa policy towards Eastern Neighbourhood countries - recent changes and possible developments - Olga Wasilewska (Batory Foundation, Warsaw)