Denmark, one of the Schengen states, is to re-impose controls on its frontiers with Germany and Sweden within weeks, amid pressure from the right. Finance Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen said customs booths would be erected at crossings, as well as at harbours and airports. Insisting the controls were compatible with Schengen membership, he blamed a rise in cross-border crime. A populist right-wing party allied to the government had called for the move. The Danish People's Party (DPP) and its leader Pia Kjaersgaard argued controls would counter illegal immigration and organised crime. The Schengen Agreement, which dates back to 1995, abolished internal borders, enabling passport-free movement between a large number of European countries. Denmark joined in 2001 along with other Scandinavian countries. 'Within Schengen limits' "We have reached agreement on reintroducing customs inspections at Denmark's borders as soon as possible," Mr Hjort Frederiksen told reporters in the capital Copenhagen. The new controls would, he said, enter into force within two to three weeks. Because Denmark is a Schengen member, it cannot reinstate full frontier controls and the minister said the new measures would "take place within the limits of Schengen". "Over the past few years we have seen an increase in trans-border crime, and this is designed to curb the problem," he said. "We will be building new facilities at the Danish-German border, with new electronic equipment and number-plate identifiers." He said he wanted Danish customs officers to be permanently present at the Oeresund Bridge border crossing between Denmark and Sweden. The border controls were negotiated by the DPP in return for supporting the government's pension reform. 'Gentleman's agreement' "It has to be something that works," DPP deputy leader Peter Skaarup was quoted as saying by Denmark's Politiken newspaper. "A strengthening of customs controls in which there is a permanent customs officer presence. There must also be extra funds for the police so that those caught in customs controls can be arrested." The newspaper notes that the use of customs officers would be a way of getting around the Schengen rules, as checks would be random. According to Politiken, the DPP also reached a "gentleman's agreement" with the government that Denmark would support a Franco-Italian proposal for changes to the Schengen Agreement itself. Denmark's ruling coalition of liberals and conservatives relies on the DPP's support to pass legislation in parliament. The country must hold its next general election by this November Source:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13366047
Good thing is, that nothing for us regular people change, we still can go in and out of Denmark as we wish to do. As can all criminals with a Schengen status. The bad thing is the traffic along the borders. And the costs for the danish people. ................ Now i thought for 5 minutes and do no see any advantage for the danes at all.. do they really think, the criminals (as its all about trans border crimes, correct?) Coming from the German border are held up in any way ? Well, the UK had its border shut and controlled even when inside the Schengen agreement. in fact, my wifes had to get visas to go to the UK first, which they got instantly of course. (i do not know the exact status) But did this prevent any crook ? I doubt it. I guess it is just a political move for the government to 'blame" somebody for other shortcomings. A common tactic working great in almost every nation in the world. i also guess, Germany will follow soon, because we got no clue what to do with the 100 thousands of unemployed customs officers and boarder guards, which will be employed until they are 65 at least. currently they pass time as security in train stations and other public areas or check Restaurants for illegal workers. Among other unemployed which got jobs through the desperate attempt of the Government to create work and polish the statistic.
UK was never part of the Schengen Treaty or Convention. Entry visa for our Pinay fiancees, wives etc has been and still is a somewhat challenging and very expensive excercise. The so called borderless Schengen Area consists of 25 European countries. Quite a difficult task of control when conflicts and recessions have an impact with refugees. Oh, lets not forget European Human Rights, which always seems to be a the centre of 'troubles' these days.
Europe has gone too far in too much of a short time. Initially, the "5" agreed to open common borders to ease travel and commerce, but the franco/German vision of a unified europe seems to have gone haywire..... Europe is not, and will never be like the US of A.... There is no common language, and too many different cultural divides within its current borders. I wish it was back to when there were only 10 nations. Everything was nice and smooth, without too much hassle and bureocracy. Now it is a veritable mess..... Eastern Europe should have been left alone.
They did the whole Eastern Europe thing to cement the security situation after the collapse of the Soviet Union and places like Poland are doing very nicely as a result of their EU membership these days, lots of EU sponsored infrastructure projects like the A1 motorway project, although that has taken donkeys years and is still far from completion.
