Resolution on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and the Slovak Republic, and welcomed the new Member States entering the Schengen area. It stressed the symbolic and historic importance of this event with a view to ending the former divisions in Europe and congratulated those Member States on the tremendous efforts that some of them have made in order to be ready and to respect all the Schengen requirements in such a short period of time. The resolution was adopted by 459 votes in favour to 13 against with 42 abstentions.

Parliament reminded the new Member States of the need to maintain a high level of security and strictly and efficiently to meet the Schengen area's requirements at all times, and stressed the urgent need to speed up preparations for the start-up of a fully functioning SIS II. The Member States should put in place as soon as possible all the necessary measures to remedy the remaining shortcomings. Parliament noted that, although some issues were still outstanding and would require follow-up in the future, they did not constitute an obstacle to applying the full Schengen acquis to the new Member States concerned. The Council was urged to ensure that Parliament was kept informed, in writing, in the course of the next six months on the follow-up it decided to give to the recommendations contained in the Schengen evaluation report and mentioned in the follow-up for each Member State concerned.

Parliament recalled the need to proceed to a global evaluation, over the next two years, regarding the way in which the system had been implemented and was working in every country participating in the Schengen area, focussing in particular on the achievements of, the consequences of, and the problems arising from the implementation of the system. It fully expected the Council to ensure that Parliament in all legislative procedures was provided with all the information required and available to be able to take a proper decision and to exercise the necessary democratic scrutiny.