Supporting Schengen evaluations

In December 2020, FRA was an observer to the Schengen return and readmission evaluations of Cyprus. It joined a team of evaluators from the European Commission and EU Member States. This was the fourth such FRA observer visit to Member States in 2020.

FRA being an observer to on-site missions is part of its broader support to the Schengen Evaluation and Monitoring Mechanism. This also includes an annual analysis for the Commission on the fundamental rights situation in the evaluated Member States in the field of return and external borders, and training future evaluators. This year’s Fundamental Rights Report took stock of the recommendations delivered to Member States in the context of Schengen evaluations. It confirmed the added value of the mechanism in monitoring and supporting fundamental rights compliant application of EU law.