Source: European Asylum Support Office
Upon the invitation of the Italian Department of Public Security, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and Europol, together with the Italian authorities, have today completed a test exercise of the new EU screening process in Lampedusa.
The two-week trial was designed to test the practical implementation of the Screening Toolbox, a form developed jointly by Frontex and the EUAA for the screening of migrants who enter the EU irregularly. The toolbox is a key operational element of the new Screening Regulation foreseen by the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The exercise aimed to test the screening toolbox in real-life operational conditions, strengthen inter-Agency cooperation, identify potential risks, and develop best practices ahead of June 2026 when the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum will enter into application.
“It is extremely important for the EU Agency for Asylum to have the possibility to test the tools being developed under the new Pact legislation, before it enters into application. As the Screening Regulation is an important pillar of this new approach to effective migration management, we are very thankful to our Italian partners and colleagues from Frontex and EUROPOL to see and test how the Screening toolbox will be used in practice.” said Nina GREGORI, Executive Director of the EUAA.
“This pilot shows how European cooperation translates into tangible results,” said Hans LEIJTENS, Executive Director of Frontex. “By preparing together, we make sure that the new EU screening process will enhance border management while safeguarding the fundamental rights of all those arriving at our external borders.”
“By hosting this pilot, Italy once again demonstrated its strong commitment to European cooperation and contributed its expertise to managing the EU’s external borders”, said Vittorio PISANI, Chief of the Italian National Police and General-Director for Public Security.
The screening phase will be mandatory for all third-country nationals arriving without authorisation. It consists of the following elements: preliminary health and vulnerability checks, information provision, the taking of biometrics and registration in EURODAC; identification and security checks including consultation of EU border management systems such as Schengen Information System (SIS), Visa Information System (VIS), Entry-Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
During the exercise in Lampedusa, Joint Screening Teams composed of the Italian authorities, Frontex, EUAA and Europol worked side-by-side in real operational conditions. The teams operated in multiple shifts and used the Screening Toolbox, including standard screening forms, preliminary vulnerability check tools, templates for information provision on International Protection and step-by-step overview on screening process and training modules – to evaluate time management, workflow, and cooperation between the Agencies.
Frontex, EUAA, EUROPOL and the Italian Authorities will now analyse the results of the test exercise and integrate the findings into the final version of the Screening Toolbox, which will be made available to EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries in 2026.
Background
The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum introduces a major reform of Europe’s border and asylum management frameworks. The new Screening Regulation complements the Schengen Border Code by establishing a swift, standardised process for persons apprehended after unauthorised entry. It aims to enhance border security, ensure proper registration, and enable Member States’ national authorities to quickly channel arrivals into international protection or return procedures, as appropriate.