EU concerned over announced permanent customs controls in Denmark

[News_Editor]

EU concerned over announced permanent customs controls in Denmark

2011-05-14 02:11:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union on Friday voiced its concern over the announced permanent customs controls in Denmark to strengthen intra-EU border control.

"I am concerned by the announcement of the Danish government aiming at strengthening intra-EU border control by establishing a permanent and visible customs control at all Danish borders," said Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.

On May 11, the Danish government announced an agreement between the Danish People' Party and the Christian Democrats to strengthen border control by establishing checkpoints at all accesses.

Also on Friday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke with Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and requested further clarifications on the proposed checkpoints.

The EU seeks more information in regards to the legal basis for the envisaged checks, the sources of information based on which these checks will be carried out, and whether the announced measures will be part of larger measures to combat crime throughout the whole Danish territory.

"I call on the Danish government to refrain from taking unilateral steps and to make sure that any measures taken are in line with the relevant law," added Commissioner Malmström.

President Barroso directed Malmström to coordinate the diplomatic efforts with the Danish authorities in regards to their intentions to introduce harsher measures to fight cross border crime and tax evasion.

"The Commission stands ready to continue the dialogue with Denmark. But it will, if needed, use the tools at its disposal to guarantee the respect of EU law," concluded the Commissioner.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-14

[Steely Dan]

This follows on from France and Italy wanting to reintroduce passport checks at their borders. The Shengen agreement is surely on it's way out as one by one Countries start telling Brussells to butt out of their immigration and national security policy.

[geriatrickid]

Poor Denmark has suffered because of the incompetence of other EU nations. The Danes can't be faulted for trying to protect the very reason why Denmark is a happy and prosperous nation.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Maggie Thatcher was right about the EU on a great many issues.

[bangkokeddy]

This follows on from France and Italy wanting to reintroduce passport checks at their borders. The Shengen agreement is surely on it's way out as one by one Countries start telling Brussells to butt out of their immigration and national security policy.

Some EU skeptics and also some Thais would love that.

As cool as the Schengen idea is and how it offers greater freedom to travel, in pre Schengen times some European countries had bilateral agreements with some non EU-states that offered better deals.

Bi-lateral agreements like Thailand has with South Korea or Chile, that offers the passport holder of these countries a 90 days free visa stay.

Pre-Schengen Thailand had separate deals with each European country and they where different. For Thais was it easier and less complicated in the visa process to travel to certain countries like it is now under Schengen and so was it for certain Europeans when they wanted to visit Thailand. With Schengen these European countries had to cancel the better deals.

Source: some of the older generation of expats told me that.

[bangkokeddy]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Maggie Thatcher was right about the EU on a great many issues.

Edited May 14, 2011 by bangkokeddy

[Steely Dan]

Poor Denmark has suffered because of the incompetence of other EU nations. The Danes can't be faulted for trying to protect the very rason why Denmark is a happy and prosperous nation.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Maggie Thatcher was right about the EU on a great many issues.

Quite so, she was the last British prime minister to have any balls. You can also tell that something is deeply wrong in Europe when far right wing parties are so popular in historically liberal and moderate scandanavian Countries and Holland.