Key Benefits:
RESOLUTION
On increased cooperation of the Baltic States
in the Schengen area
The Baltic Assembly,
emphasising that the Baltic States’ joining the Schengen area on 21 December 2007 is of great significance to their citizens because free movement of persons is one of the fundamental principles of the European Union;
considering that international crime, smuggling, drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings, etc., create additional problems for the Schengen area states;
underlining the need for improved legal harmonisation among the Members and multilateral coordination of activities aimed at ensuring security;
understanding the necessity of balance between instruments of control and free movement of persons;
acknowledging that the global economic crisis results in higher levels of illegal migration, organised crime, smuggling and other forms of crime,
calls on the parliaments and governments of the Baltic States and the Baltic Council of Ministers for:
– development of a uniform approach towards regional security, fight against regional crime, and efficient utilisation of available public instruments and assistance of the society;
– maintenance of regular funding mechanisms for joint police operations and training in the EU neighbour countries;
– improvement of the managerial level in order for law enforcement to be more effective in its fight against organised and serious international crimes;
– aspiration to expeditious exchange of information between law enforcement institutions of the Baltic States,
– promotion of faster launching of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II).
