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Integrated Border Management Fund - the Instrument for financial support for customs control equipment

In “An Economy that Works for People”

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To support Member States in managing the EU’s common external borders, on 2 May 2018 the Commission adopted a proposal to set up an Integrated Border Management Fund (IBMF) in the context of the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. The IBMF would provide funding towards building and enhancing Member States’ capacities in the common visa policy area and in dealing with migratory challenges and potential future threats at external borders, but also in addressing serious cross-border crime and ensuring a high level of internal security within the EU. It will also reinforce cooperation between them and with the relevant Union agencies, such as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBCGA).

The proposed IBMF includes two instruments - an instrument for financial support for border management and visa and an instrument for financial support for customs control equipment both of which would become operational on 1 January 2021.

The instrument for financial support for customs control equipment fills the gaps under the existing Customs programme (in place since 1991) which funds cooperation actions between customs authorities, electronic systems and  administrative capacity building and existing national initiatives, but excludes the possibility and means of funding equipment used for customs controls at EU external borders. Specifically, the instrument would allow the purchase, maintenance and upgrade of eligible detection equipment for customs controls, and cover equipment also used for wider control purposes (e.g. border control and security). It would complement actions under the Customs programme, which continues to oversee the assessment of equipment needs and training for the use of purchased equipment. The instrument would also contribute to the functioning of the EU Anti-fraud Programme and hence to the protection of the financial and economic interests of the Union and its Member States.

The Council discussed the proposed IBMF between June and December 2018 and established a partial mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on 18 December 2018.

After the vote on the IMCO Committee draft report on the instrument for financial support for customs control equipment at the January 2019 plenary, the proposal was referred back to the Committee, thereby not bringing the Parliament's first reading to a close and opening the negotiations with the Council. A debate in Parliament took place on 3 April 2019 and amendments voted at the plenary on 16 April 2019 (first-reading/single reading). The Romanian Presidency aimed at providing the present Finnish Presidency with a solid basis for developing further the discussions with the European Parliament with a view to finalising both programmes. On 8 October 2019 the IMCO Committee decided to open interinstitutional negotiations after 1st reading in Parliament.

On 10 November 2019, The European Parliament and German Presidency of the Council reached a political agreement on the 2021-2027 MFF and new own resources. On 17 December, the European Parliament gave its consent to the next multiannual financial framework. The IBMF will be allocated a budget of € 6,5 billion (in 2018 prices) for the 2021-2027 period.

On 17 December 2019, the Council published a progress report confirming the common Understanding reached at the trilogue on 26 November 2019. On 18 December 2019 the Council published a progress report - confirmation of the Common Understanding. On 21 December 2020 the Council removed public availability restrictions concerning the Council Mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament published on 11 December 2020.   

The inter-institutional negotiations with the European Parliament on the file under the Portuguese Presidency took place between January and March 2021. At the political trilogue on 16 March 2021, a provisional agreement on the Customs Control Equipment Regulation was reached between the co-legislators. With a view to enabling an early second reading agreement between the Council and the European Parliament on this legislative proposal, COREPER has been invited to confirm the compromise agreement reached on the proposal. This approval would be conditional upon the receipt of a letter from the Chair of the EP’s IMCO Committee confirming the Parliament’s acceptance of the text of the agreement and that should the Council adopt this text as its first-reading position, the European Parliament would not adopt any amendments to it in its second reading. On 19 May 2021, the Council published its position at first reading with a view of the adoption on the Regulation establishing the instrument for financial support for customs control equipment as part of the IBMF.

On 9 June 2021 the Council published a statement, noting that on 8 June the President of the European Parliament had declared the Council's position at first reading approved without amendments. It stated that the respective act is deemed to have been adopted in the wording which corresponds to the Council's position at first reading and is awaiting signature by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council before its publication in the Official Journal. After official  signature  by the EP President and  the  President  of  the Council,  the  act was  published  in  the Official Journal of the European Union on 2 July 2021.  


  

 

References:

    Author: Nikolai Atanassov, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu

    As of 15/12/2024.