CELEX: 52019PC0023
Language: en
Date: 2019-01-31
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concerning the notification of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of its wish no longer to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis which are contained in Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 of 19 February 2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 31.1.2019
            COM(2019) 23 final
            2019/0011(NLE)
            Proposal for a
            COUNCIL DECISION
            concerning the notification of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of its wish no longer to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen FMT:Italicacquis which are contained in Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 of 19 February 2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
            
            
               •Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
            
            
               
                  In accordance with Article 5 of Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and Article 8(2) of Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis
                     1
                  , the United Kingdom took part in Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 of 19 February 2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 493/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011.
               
               
                  On 16 May 2018, the Commission proposed a further amendment of Regulation No 377/2004, in the form of a recast.
                     2
                   That proposal was received by the Council in all the required languages on 2 July 2018.
               
               
                  On 1 October 2018, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 5(2) of the Protocol (No 19) on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the United Kingdom notified to the President of the Council its wish not to take part in the 16 May 2018 recast proposal. As a consequence the United Kingdom no longer takes part in the adoption of this proposal. 
               
               
                  In view of the fact that the network character of the Immigration Liaison Officers network makes it impossible for a Member State to remain part of that network where the amended legislation setting up that network does not apply to that Member State, another consequence of the aforementioned notification will be that the United Kingdom will cease to participate in the Immigration Liaison Officers network from the date of entry into force of the recast proposal regarding that network.
               
               
                  In accordance with Article 5(3) of Protocol (No 19) on the Schengen acquis, the Council determines the extent and the conditions under which the United Kingdom will cease to participate in parts of the Schengen acquis affected by the aforementioned notification. The Council acts in the form of a decision, adopted by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission. 
               
               
                  The Council decision under Article 5(3) of Protocol (No 19) on the Schengen acquis takes account of the following criteria: the need to retain the widest possible participation of the notifying Member State in the Schengen acquis without seriously affecting its practical operability and while respecting its coherence.
               
               
                  The 16 May 2018 recast proposal aims to increase coordination and optimise the use of immigration liaison officers, including the new European liaison officers deployed to third countries, in order to respond more effectively to EU priorities in the field of migration.
               
               
                  The 16 May 2018 recast proposal has the same objectives as  Regulation (EC) No 377/2004, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 493/2011, focusing on enhancing cooperation and coordination between immigration liaison officers posted in third countries, notably by setting out the obligation to establish local or regional networks among immigration liaison officers as well as promoting the use of a dedicated e-tool for regular exchange of information within the local networks and establishing a reporting system on the activities of immigration liaison officers’ networks, but without mandating specific operational interaction with other systems or legal instruments part of the Schengen acquis.
               
               
                  It follows from the nature of the 16 May 2018 recast proposal, as well as from that of the existing Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 as amended by Regulation (EU) 493/2011, that they constitute a self-standing measure within the Schengen acquis, which is not operationally interacting with other legal instruments that are part of the Schengen acquis. 
               
               
                  Therefore, it can be considered, in this very exceptional case, that despite the cessation of the United Kingdom’s participation in Regulation (EC) No 377/2004, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 493/2011, continued participation by the United Kingdom in the remainder of the Schengen acquis in which it currently participates,  serves to ensure the UK’s widest possible participation in such acquis without seriously affecting the Schengen acquis’ practical operability while at the same time respecting its coherence.
               
            
            
               •Consistency with other Union policies
            
            
               
                  Not applicable 
               
            
            
               2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
            
            
               •Legal basis
            
            
               
                  This proposal is based on Article 5(3) of Protocol (No 19) on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European Union.
               
            
            
               •Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence) 
            
         
         
            
               
                  Not applicable 
               
               
                  •
                        Proportionality
               
               
                  Not applicable.
               
            
            
               •Choice of the instrument
            
            
               
                  Protocol (No 19) on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European Union sets out the procedures regulating the United Kingdom's participation in measures building on the Schengen acquis.
               
               
                  3.
                        RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
               
            
            
               Given the nature and scope of this proposal, no ex-post evaluation, stakeholder consultation or impact assessment are necessary. 
                     
            
            
               4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
            
            
               The proposal bears no budgetary implication.
            
            
               2019/0011 (NLE)
            
            
               Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL DECISION
            
            
               concerning the notification of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of its wish no longer to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis which are contained in Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 of 19 February 2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network
               
            
               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the European Union, 
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
            
            
               Having regard to the Protocol (No 19) on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular to Article 5(3) thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the notification, under Article 5(2) of the Protocol (No 19) on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European Union, by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, by its letter to the President of the Council of 1 October 2018, of its wish not to take part in the proposalfor a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the creation of a European network of immigration liaison officers, 
                  3
               
            
            
               Whereas:
            
         
         
            
               (1)The United Kingdom took part in Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004
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               , as amended by Regulation (EU) No 493/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011
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               .
            
            
               (2)On 1 October 2018, within the required three-month deadline, the United Kingdom has notified to the President of the Council its wish not to take part in the adoption of the recast of the Regulation on the creation of a European network of immigration liaison officers, proposed by the Commission on 16 May 2018 and received by the Council in all the required languages on 2 July 2018.
            
            
               (3)Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 aims to enhance cooperation between immigration liaison officers posted in third countries, notably by setting out the obligation to establish local or regional networks among immigration liaison officers as well as promoting the use of a dedicated e-tool for regular exchange of information within the local networks and establishing a reporting system on the activities of immigration liaison officers’ networks through bi-annual Presidency reports, without requiring the use of any operational systems or directly interacting with any legal provisions contained in other legal instruments that are part of the Schengen acquis.
            
            
               (4)The 16 May 2018 proposal for the recast of the Regulation on the creation of a European network of immigration liaison officers, while aiming to increase coordination and optimise utilisation of immigration liaison officers, including the new European liaison officers deployed to third countries, in order to respond more effectively to EU priorities in the field of migration, does not depart from the nature of the current Regulation (EC) No 377/2004, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 493/2011, inasmuch as its concrete interaction with the other parts of the Schengen acquis is concerned.
            
            
               (5)The proposal for the recast of the Regulation on the creation of a European network of immigration liaison officers, just as Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 as amended by Regulation (EU) No 493/2011, can therefore be considered as a self-standing measure within the Schengen acquis, which is not interacting operationally with other legal instruments that are part of the Schengen acquis.
            
            
               (6)In this exceptional case and in the light of the self-standing nature within the Schengen acquis of Regulation (EC) No 377/2004, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 493/2011, it may be considered that, if the United Kingdom no longer participates in this Regulation, or any further amendments thereof, but continues to participate in the remaining Schengen acquis in which it currently participates pursuant to Council Decision 2000/365/EC
                  6
               , this would ensure the widest possible participation of the United Kingdom without seriously affecting the practical operability of the other parts of the Schengen acquis, while respecting their coherence.
            
            
               (7)Article 8(2) of Decision 2000/365/EC should therefore, in accordance with Article 5(3) of the Protocol (No 19) on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European Union and as from the entry into force of the proposed recast of Regulation (EC) No 377/2004, cease to apply to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as regards Regulation (EC) No 377/2004, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 493/2011, and any further amendments thereof, including the proposal for the recast of Regulation (EC) No 377/2004. 
            
            
               (8)As a consequence, point 6 of Annex I to Council Decision 2004/926/EC
                  7
                as regards Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 should equally, in accordance with Article 5(3) of that Protocol, cease to apply as from the entry into force of the proposed recast,
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               Decision 2000/365/EC, as well as point 6 of Annex I to Decision 2004/926/EC, shall cease to apply to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as regards Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 493/2011, and any further amendments thereof, as from the day of entry into force of the proposed recast of the Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the creation of a European network of immigration liaison officers.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
            
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
            
               
                     For the Council
               
               
                     The President
               
            
         
         
            
                  
                     (1)
                  
                        OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43.
               
               
                  
                     (2)
                  
                        Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the creation of a European network of immigration liaison officers (recast)*, COM(2018) 303 final.
               
               
                  
                     (3)
                  
                        COM(2018) 303 final.
               
               
                  
                     (4)
                  
                        Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 of 19 February 2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network (OJ L 064, 2.3.2004, p.1).
               
               
                  
                     (5)
                  
                        Regulation (EU) No 493/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 of 19 February 2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network (OJ L141, 27.5.2011, p.13).
               
               
                  
                     (6)
                  
                        Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p.43).
               
               
                  
                     (7)
                  
                        Council Decision 2004/926/EC of 22 December 2004 on the putting into effect of parts of the Schengen acquis by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (OJ L 395, 31.12.2004, p.70).