Source: European Parliament
The competence to carry out investigations into individual allegations against the national authorities, and to ensure remedial actions where allegations of wrongdoing are corroborated, is the responsibility of Member States.
The Commission has been supporting the Croatian authorities in the establishment of the independent monitoring mechanism (IMM). The Coordination Board of the IMM issues reports on their activities, available on the IMM website[1].
Following its Schengen accession on 1 January 2023, the first periodic Schengen evaluation of Croatia took place in December 2023 — March 2024 under the current Schengen evaluation and Monitoring Mechanism[2].
Particular attention was paid to the respect of fundamental rights in the treatment of migrants and access to asylum procedure at Croatia’s borders.
Observers from the Fundamental Right Agency (FRA) participated in the evaluation team. The evaluation report, adopted on 31 October 2024, concluded that, overall, the Croatian authorities duly consider fundamental rights when implementing the Schengen acquis.
Looking ahead, Article 10 of the Screening Regulation[3] provides an obligation on Member States to set up independent mechanisms to monitor compliance with EU and international law during the screening.
All Member States, including Croatia, should ensure that they fulfil this obligation, put in place adequate safeguards for these bodies’ independence, and equip them with appropriate financial means, taking also into account the FRA Guidance of 19 September 2024[4].
- [1] https:// http://www.nmn.hr
- [2] Council Regulation (EU) 2022/922 of 9 June 2022 on the establishment and operation of an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013.
- [3] Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 introducing the screening of third-country nationals at the external borders and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU) 2019/817.
- [4] Monitoring fundamental rights during screening and the asylum border procedure — A guide on national independent mechanisms (europa.eu) https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2024-independent-border-monitoring-mechanisms_en.pdf