EU-Wide Border Control Force Proposed

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The current refugee crisis in Europe has exposed the Union’s security problems, not least of which is the inability to police its own borders. With countries in the Schengen Area relying on one another to provide border controls, the point of entry into the Union must be secure, with reliable and thorough checks in place, and adequate and well-trained personnel on hand to prevent the entry of criminals and terrorists. It has now become clear not all countries are up to the task, with internal borders checks being set up threatening the viability of the Schengen agreement.

To combat the problem of the weakness of its remote borders, the European Union is deliberating whether to introduce a permanent external border control force. The force would be deployed to member states that are unable to cope with the task of policing their external borders, even without their consent.

If it is to become a reality, the proposal would have to overcome significant hurdles. Handing over sovereignty of states to the EU’s leadership in Brussels is likely to be controversial in most, if not all, the member states. Euroscepticism is on the rise in the continent, with many parties advocating separation from the Union gaining a significant voice, even if not yet any meaningful power to do so.

Greece has recently accepted help from the EU in policing its Aegean borders. Even this failing and reliant country was none too keen on the move, and acquiesced only following threats that they could be excluded from the Schengen Area.

At present, Frontex, the EU’s border control agency, has limited powers. It can only coordinate between member states’ own forces. The proposed agency would not be subject to any of the states individually, and would possess its own budget, equipment, and border guards. It would have 2,000 staff that could be deployed within days.

If successful, this could be the saving grace of the Schengen. Otherwise, the move could deepen the rift between EU states, edging the Union closer to the precipice.