The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 and the Convention applying the Schengen Agreement (CSA) of 19 June 1990,

–   having regard to Directive 2004/38/EC on the right to move and reside freely,

–   having regard to Article 77 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU,

–   having regard to the recent adoption of the draft Council decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania,

–   having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on migration of 4 May 2011,

–   having regard to the Justice and Home Affairs Council conclusions of 9 June 2011,

–   having regard to the European Council Conclusions of 23 and 24 June 2011,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Schengen agreement was first adopted in 1985, 26 years ago,

B.  notes that the Schengen area is now more than five times the size it was at its initial implementation,

C. whereas the Commission and the Council have stated that the suspension clause to the Schengen system would allow for the temporary reintroduction of checks at internal borders; notes, however, that such border checks would be possible only under very strict conditions under exceptional circumstances for a strictly limited period of time and would be monitored at a European level,

D. whereas the political situation in North Africa, increased travel, large-scale migration and unemployment have all contributed to the changing needs of the Schengen system,

E.  whereas increases in cross-border crime, people trafficking and international terrorism have also had a negative impact on the implementation of the Schengen system,

F.  whereas it is important that the fundamental rights of European citizens and freedom of movement are observed throughout the Schengen area,

1.  Stresses the need for serious review and reform from the Commission of the Schengen area;

2.  Stresses the importance of mutual trust, between Members States, on the existence of effective controls of their external borders;

3.  Stresses that the security of one Member State is reliant upon checks and implementation of the other within the Schengen area;

4.  Stresses the need for the Schengen area to be more greatly supported by EU agencies including FRONTEX, Europol and Eurojust;

5.  Calls for a strengthened evaluation mechanism for Member States who join the Schengen area, including a greater focus on the prevention of corruption, combating organised crime, and the establishment of an independent judiciary;

6.  Calls for the evaluation mechanism to include a support regime and a sanctions regime with, as a maximum consequence, the reintroduction of border controls;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of Member States.