Beyond walls and fences: EU funding used for a complex and digitalised border surveillance system Introduction In the current Multiannual Financial Framework structures and cutting-edge technologies to control (MFF) 2021 – 2027, the European Union (EU) is and prevent movements of people at the borders, dedicating significant political effort and financial resulting in increasing violence, pushbacks and resources to building stronger and technically more other fundamental rights violations. sophisticated external borders. Despite Member States’ repeated requests5 to the Resources for the reinforcement and militarisa- European Commission to allow the financing of tion of external borders are also increasing at physical barriers from the EU budget (particularly the EU level. The Integrated Border Management the BMVI) as measures to protect the EU’s external Fund (IBMF) surged by 135% compared to the borders, the Commission has consistently ruled corresponding programme during the period out6 this possibility, considering them inefficient 2014 – 2020.2 Through the Border Management and disproportionate measures for ensuring border and Visa Instrument (BMVI)3, the EU supports controls.7 However, this study finds that the BMVI Member States to reinforce equipment, personnel can already support a number of equally dispro- capacity, infrastructures, and technology to be portionate measures which do not fundamentally used at the EU’s external borders. According to the differ from building walls and fences in that they findings of this study, there was a 45% increase in also have a high impact on the fundamental rights resources available to Member States compared of people at the EU’s external borders. 1 to the previous budgetary period (2014 – 2020). Moreover, the mid-term revision of the MFF In line with the EU Integrated Border Management finalised in January 2024, along with the recently Strategy, the BMVI Regulation allows Member adopted Pact on Migration and Asylum, will con- States to support several activities aimed at tribute to further increasing the resources available increasing search and rescue (SAR) capacity, as under the BMVI. well as assistance for people in border areas. This study takes stock of how these competing priorities Physical fences have proliferated at Member of protection and deterrence have been imple- States’ external borders and within EU/Schengen mented, and asserts that EU resources for border countries, growing over six times longer between management should prioritise protection and 2014 and 2022, across EU and Schengen assistance components and implement sufficient countries’ borders. These barriers have also and functioning safeguards to ensure compliance become increasingly complex, combining physical with international and European legislation. 4 1 The Integrated Border Management Fund includes the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) and the Customs Control Equipment Instrument (CCEI). 2 EPRS briefing, Migration and border management, Heading 4 of the 2021 – 2027 MFF, 2021. 3 Regulation 2021/1148 establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, hereafter “BMVI Regulation”. 4 European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) briefing, Walls and fences at EU borders, 2022. 5 https://www.infomigrants.net/fr/post/35620/europe-should-pay-for-walls-against-migrants-say-ministers 6 Parliamentary question | Answer for question E-003322/21 | E-003322/2021(ASW) | European Parliament (europa.eu) 7 Parliamentary question | Answer for question E-003322/21 | E-003322/2021(ASW) | European Parliament (europa.eu) 9