Introduction to the Study

• Author: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (European Commission), ICF
• Pages: 6-10

Study to assess the impacts related to possible evolutions of EUROSUR - Final Report

September, 2019

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1 Introduction to the Study

This Final Report of the Study to assess the impacts related to possible evolutions of

EUROSUR (the Study) was undertaken by ICF on behalf of Directorate-General for

Migration and Home Affai rs of th e European Commission ( DG HOME). It is structured as

follows:

 Section 1 presents the purpose and scope of the study;

 Section 2 presents the method of approach of the study, including the strengths and

limitations of the method applied;

 Section 3 presents options for the possible evolution of EUROSUR alongside their

costs of implementation and expected benefits; and

 Section 4 presents the conclusion for the Study.

The annexes present technical information supporting the findings presented in Section 3.

1.1 Study context and objectives

The Study ai med to support Commission services in elaborating and assessing proposals

for possible modifications of Regulation 1052/2013. It built on the results of the evaluation

of the EUROSUR Regulation previously undertaken by Commission services10. In early

2018, the Commission identified several options defi ning the way forward for the possible

development of EUROSUR. These proposals, presented in the Terms of Reference of the

Study, were refined by DG HOME in anticipation of this St udy11 and during the Study; a

detailed description of which is presented in Section 3.

The Study also took place in the context of the drafting of the proposal for a new Regulation

on the European Border and Coast Guard12 (the EBCG Regulation). The proposal called for

an extension of the scope of EUROSUR and incorporated EUROSUR in the proposed EBCG

Regulation as a n ecessary element of the functioning of th e European Border and Coast

Guard. Against this background, the two main Study tasks13 wer e:

 a Cost/Benefit Analysis (CBA) of options on the future of EUROSUR; and

 consultations with ind ustry bodies, the research community and non-government

organisations (NGOs).

Some of the Study interim results were used to assess the financial impact of the

amendments of EUROSUR in the Commi ssion proposal on the European Border and Coast

Guard and, in particular, the corresponding part in the Legislative Financial Statement.

10 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/soteu2018-eurosur-report-632_en.pdf &

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/soteu2018-eurosur-evaluation_en.pdf.

11 On 6th and 7th February 2018, the Commission set up a dedicated workshop to discuss the technological and

industrial aspects of EUROSUR with industry representatives, researchers and governmental experts from Member

States, EU institutions and Agencies, the results of which are reported in a separate document called "EUROSUR

Industry Workshop - Summary Report".

12 COM(2018) 631 final: Proposal for a Regulation of the European parliament and of the council on the European

Border and Coast Guard, repealing Council Joint Action n°98/700/JHA, Regulation (EU) n° 1052/2013 of the

European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) n°2016/1624 of the European Parliament and of the

Council.

13 The foreseen analysis of the results of an open public consultation as in the ToR did not take place and additional

efforts was hence put on the two other tasks of the Study.