Working closely with the authorities concerned, SEM has developed the Integrated Border Management (IBM) Action Plan to put the IBM Strategy into practice. The Action plan is designed to be constantly evolving. This way, the action plan can be continuously adapted to changing challenges in the migration and security sector, providing flexibility when implementing measures and documenting the work of border control officers. Thus, it is available exclusively in electronic form (on this website) and not in print or printable form.
The IBM Action Plan describes all the measures that need to be implemented to realise the IBM Strategy. It is regularly reviewed and adapted to the situation on the ground – in particular to current developments in migration, security and other challenges faced by border control authorities. Having an adaptive action plan in place makes it possible to consider current and future challenges in border management in a way that is modern, comprehensive and in line with EU recommendations. It also takes into account the lessons learned from the previous action plan.
The IBM Action Plan is built on two pillars: the key measures and the standard measures, which are listed in the action plan’s table of measures.
Key measures
Working closely with the authorities concerned, SEM has developed the Integrated Border Management (IBM) Action Plan to put the IBM Strategy into practice. The Action plan is designed to be constantly evolving. This way, the action plan can be continuously adapted to changing challenges in the migration and security sector, providing flexibility when implementing measures and documenting the work of border control officers. Thus, it is available exclusively in electronic form (on this website) and not in print or printable form.
The IBM Action Plan describes all the measures that need to be implemented to realise the IBM Strategy. It is regularly reviewed and adapted to the situation on the ground – in particular to current developments in migration, security and other challenges faced by border control authorities. Having an adaptive action plan in place makes it possible to consider current and future challenges in border management in a way that is modern, comprehensive and in line with EU recommendations. It also takes into account the lessons learned from the previous action plan.
The IBM Action Plan is built on two pillars: the key measures and the standard measures, which are listed in the action plan’s table of measures.
The action plan’s standard measures are short-term tasks or projects to meet the objectives of the third IBM Strategy.
A standard measure is a task an authority carries out that goes beyond what is legally required of them. What is not meant here are core day-to-day activities that are carried out to meet a legal mandate (e.g. border checks), but rather measures that make it possible to more easily, simply and effectively meet such a mandate. Standard measures must be limited in time; they are considered completed when the improvements have been successfully made. In short, they are tasks and/or support projects carried out in order to facilitate the fulfilment of traditional border management tasks (e.g. setting up Automated Border Control (ABC) Gates at airports).
The following is a list of criteria for a task or project to be considered a standard measure:
A task or project aimed at realising the third IBM Strategy objectives;
that is not considered ‘daily business’ and not expressly required by law;
and that is limited in time.
SEM will continuously update its list of standard measures based on the information it receives from the responsible authorities. The standard measures are an important part of the action plan and are published in the table hereafter. The cantons and federal authorities with border management responsibilities will implement and manage their projects themselves and periodically report back to SEM. Both key measures and standard measures will contribute equally to the realisation of the third IBM Strategy’s objectives, and together form the IBM Action Plan.
«Border control, including measures to facilitate legitimate border crossings and, where appropriate: measures related to the prevention and detection of cross-border crime at the external borders, in particular migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings, and terrorism; and mechanisms and procedures for the identification of vulnerable persons and unaccompanied minors, and for the identification of persons who are in need of international protection or wish to apply for such protection, the provision of information to such persons, and the referral of such persons» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. a Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Search and rescue operations for persons in distress at sea launched and carried out in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 656/2014 and with international law, taking place in situations which may arise during border surveillance operations at sea» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. b Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Analysis of the risks for internal security and analysis of the threats that may affect the functioning or security of the external borders» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. c Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Information exchange and cooperation between Member States in the areas covered by this Regulation, as well as information exchange and cooperation between Member States and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, including the support coordinated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. d Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Inter-agency cooperation among the national authorities in each Member State which are responsible for border control or for other tasks carried out at the border, as well as between authorities responsible for return in each Member State, including the regular exchange of information through existing information exchange tools, including, where appropriate, cooperation with national bodies in charge of protecting fundamental rights» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. e Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Cooperation among the relevant Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies in the areas covered by this Regulation, including through regular exchange of information» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. f Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Cooperation with third countries in the areas covered by this Regulation, focusing in particular on neighbouring third countries and on those third countries which have been identified through risk analysis as being countries of origin or transit for illegal immigration» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. g Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Technical and operational measures within the Schengen area which are related to border control and designed to address illegal immigration and to counter cross-border crime better» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. h Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«The return of third-country nationals who are the subject of return decisions issued by a Member State» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. i Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«The use of state-of-the-art technology including large-scale information systems» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. j Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«A quality control mechanism, in particular the Schengen evaluation mechanism, the vulnerability assessment and possible national mechanisms, to ensure the implementation of Union law in the area of border management» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. k Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Solidarity mechanisms, in particular Union funding instruments» (Art. 3, para. 1, let. l Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Fundamental rights, education and training, as well as research and innovation shall be overarching components in the implementation of European integrated border management» (Art. 3, para. 2 Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Fundamental rights, education and training, as well as research and innovation shall be overarching components in the implementation of European integrated border management» (Art. 3, para. 2 Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
«Fundamental rights, education and training, as well as research and innovation shall be overarching components in the implementation of European integrated border management» (Art. 3, para. 2 Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard)
Monitoring and updating intervals of the action plan
The action plan is updated in intervals that are synchronised with the meetings of the Border Steering Group. In principle, this occurs every six months. In these meetings, the relevant authorities are invited to present the progress of their respective projects. Where appropriate, the SEM actively monitors and informs the public about developments in the dynamic action plan directly on the website.
