Brussels, 13/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - A report unveiled by the European Commission on Wednesday, indicated that European countries are organising too many border controls within the Schengen area, which subsequently cause difficulties for travellers. In its report on the application of the Schengen Border Code for internal borders, which entered into force in 2006, the Commission points to three specific issues of concern: difficulties linked to alleged regular and systematic checks in certain internal border zones; maintenance of obstacles to fluid traffic flow at road crossing-points at internal borders; and delays in the notification of planned reintroduction of internal borders controls.
“An area without internal borders where people can move freely is one of the greatest achievements of European cooperation, and something that really benefits the citizens. It is therefore regrettable this is not respected everywhere, which this report shows”, said EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström.
End of systematic controls - The Schengen agreement means that individuals, irrespective of their nationality in the 25 member states, can cross internal borders at any point without being subject to border checks. However, checks on people under the exercise of police powers by the competent authorities of the member states are allowed throughout the territory, including in border areas, insofar as the exercise of those powers does not have an effect, which is the equivalent of border checks. The Commission is concerned by the difficulties reported by travellers in connection with alleged regular and systematic checks carried out in certain internal border zones. To monitor this situation adequately and to address the concerns of the citizens, the Commission considers that more information from member states is needed on how often and why they carry out checks in the internal border zones. In response to this situation, the Commission is requesting member states to provide explanations. If the explanations are not satisfactory, the Commission will not hesitate to launch infringement procedures. The Commission will also request member states to provide statistics on police checks carried out within their territories and in particular in the internal border zones. Moreover, in its proposal on the revised Schengen evaluation mechanism, the Commission will envisage carrying out unannounced on-site visits to verify the absence of checks at internal borders.
Fluidity of traffic - The Commission also deplores the fact that at road crossing-points at internal borders, large-scale infrastructure is still being maintained (buildings, cabins, road coverings, plastic cones, barriers, reduced numbers of roads, traffic lights and signals), often accompanied by significant speed limits. The Commission is of the opinion that the member states must remove all these obstacles to facilitate traffic flow, and in particular any speed limits not exclusively based on road-safety considerations.
More information about controls - The Schengen Borders Code allows the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders and since its entry into force, 12 member states (France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Malta, Norway and Iceland) have temporarily reintroduced controls on travellers at borders during specific events, such as in the case of Austria and Switzerland during the football EURO 2008 championship. Although the Commission considers that member states have not abused this facility, it does, nonetheless insist on timely notification of any planned reintroduction of internal border controls. It also requests that these countries provide it with detailed information so that it is able, if necessary, to give an opinion and organise formal consultations between these countries and their respective services. (B.C./transl.fl)