On the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway on… supplementary rules in relation to the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, for the period 2021 to 2027

Parliament's committee report asks Parliament to give its consent to a draft Council decision concluding an agreement with Norway on supplementary rules for Norway's participation in the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, for 2021 to 2027.¶¶¶ The rapporteur says the same programme rules should apply to Norway as to member states, to keep control at external borders high and uniform.¶ The agreement provides for swift adjustment if key Union legislation changes, takes Norway's delayed participation into account in the mid-term review, and contains a provision on the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.¶ Budgetary and financial control obligations of member states, including the competence of the Court of Auditors, the European Anti-Fraud Office, the European Public Prosecutor's Office and the Commission, are extended to Norway through the agreement.¶

Position. The rapporteur recommends that Parliament give its consent to the draft Council decision and forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the member states and of Norway.¶¶¶

Key points

1. Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement between the European Union and Norway.¶
2. The agreement sets supplementary rules for Norway's participation in the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, for 2021 to 2027.¶¶
3. The instrument is designed to ensure strong and effective European integrated border management at external borders, facilitate authorised border crossings and prevent and detect illegal immigration and cross-border crime.¶
4. It safeguards the Schengen Area in compliance with member states' and associated countries' commitments on fundamental rights and supports uniform implementation and modernisation of the common visa policy.¶
5. The rapporteur holds that all rules for managing the programmes should apply to Norway in the same way as to member states, given the Schengen acquis and the need for its uniform application.¶
6. The agreement introduces mechanisms for swift adjustment in the event of changes to key Union legislation relevant to implementation, such as the Financial Regulation and the Common Provisions Regulation.¶
7. The agreement ensures the mid-term review of the BMVI takes into account the delayed participation of the Schengen associated countries and contains a provision on the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.¶
8. Member states' horizontal budgetary and financial control obligations, including the competence of the Court of Auditors, the European Anti-Fraud Office, the European Public Prosecutor's Office and the Commission, are extended to Norway through the agreement.¶
9. The rapporteur concludes that an agreement setting out the supplementary rules for Norway's participation is appropriate, in accordance with Article 7(6) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1148.¶

Who is affected

• Norway: the same programme management rules as member states would apply to it.¶
• Norway: budgetary and financial control obligations of member states would be extended to it.¶
• Schengen associated countries: the mid-term review of the BMVI would take into account their delayed participation.¶
• Member states and associated countries: the instrument supports border management and the common visa policy while respecting fundamental rights commitments.¶

Figures and deadlines

• 2021 to 2027: the programming period covered by the agreement.¶¶
• Article 7(6) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1148: the provision under which the agreement is established.¶

Legal basis. Article 77(2), Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), and Article 218(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.¶