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EU looks for full border control

Tuesday, 6th September 2011

The EU Commission will next week put forward a draft proposal that will allow it to have a central role in decisions on the reintroduction of border controls. Currently this has been within the power of the member states.

Michele Cercone, EU Commission Home Affairs spokesman, said: "Freedom of movement of persons is a common European good and decisions affecting it should be taken at EU level."
 
The proposals would see member states having to ask the EU Commission when they want to temporarily re-introduce border controls in case of "foreseeable events" such as football championships. If approved by the EU executive then the decision is then to be taken by a qualified majority of the member states.
 
In case of unforeseeable events endangering national security or public order - such as a terrorist attack or a nuclear disaster prompting a massive flow of people - member states are allowed to temporarily put in place border checks for a limited period of time, before asking the EU commission and other member states to prolong it.
 
Gerard Batten, UKIP's Home Affairs spokesman, said: "No one should be surprised by the European Commission's intentions. Some members states recent re-introduction of border controls within the Schengen could not be tolerated.
 
"This would be contrary to the project of creating the great borderless European state. The Commission's solution is to arrive at a decision by Qualified Majority Voting then Europhile governments can vote to tie their own hands whatever the pressure from within their own countries. 
 
"Britain isn't a member of Schengen but we will still be effected. Once foreign nationals gain entry to other member states it is much easier for them to gain entry to Britain."
 
The proposal is due to be presented on September 13th.

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