PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway on supplementary rules in relation to the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa, as part of the Internal Security Fund for the period 2014 to 2020.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
BACKGROUND: the Agreement between the European Union and Norway on supplementary rules in relation to the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa, as part of the Internal Security Fund, for the period 2014 to 2020 was signed by the Commission, subject to its conclusion at a later date.
Regulation (EU) No 515/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing, as part of the Internal Security Fund, the instrument for financial support for external borders and visas, provides that the countries associated with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis are to participate in the instrument in accordance with its provisions and that arrangements are to be concluded on their financial contributions and the supplementary rules necessary for such participation, including provisions ensuring the protection of the Union’s financial interests and the powers of audit of the Court of Auditors.
CONTENT: the draft Council decision is aimed at approving, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the European Union and Norway on supplementary rules in relation to the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa, as part of the Internal Security Fund, for the period 2014 to 2020.
Regulation (EU) No 515/2014 constitutes a development of the Schengen acquis within the Association Agreement with Norway.
Denmark shall not take part in the adoption of this decision and will not be bound by it or be subject to its application. The same goes for the United Kingdom and Ireland.
For further details on the content of the Agreement, please refer to the Commission’s initial proposal dated 14.10.2016.