SCHENGEN: "MOBILE" CONTROLS AT INTERNAL BORDERS
The Schengen Group has accepted a French idea of creating binational and multinational mobile border-patrol units as a "compensatory measure" for the suppressed fixed checks at internal borders, the Brussels based Migration News Sheet reports.
The accord was announced by the Executive Committee of the Schengen Group after its meeting of 24 October.
"Even if the Schengen Convention suppresses fixed checks at frontiers", said the French Minister responsible of European Affairs, Mr Barnier, "it does not exclude all checks". Therefore, the French concept of "mobile frontiers" does not breach the Schengen Agreement, in the view of the French Government.
By agreeing to the principle of creating multi-national mobile patrol units, the other Schengen ministers have now given in to French pressure. Indeed, France is the only country of the Schengen Group that has until now resisted the effective suppression of controls at its internal borders. By accepting the French proposal on mobile checks, the other Schengen member states obviously hope to safeguard at least the principle of abolished internal border controls as stated by the Schengen Agreement.
Belgium and France will now examine ways and means of setting up joint cross-border patrols. The other member states will be able to participate in them or set up their own units in cooperation with their Schengen neighbour-states.
Mr Barnier also proposed the setting up of "joint police departments" in order to combat organised crime more effectively. He gave to understand that the complete application by France of the Schengen Agreement will largely depend on the acceptance by its partners of French proposals aimed at establishing alternative measures of checks and police cooperation.
Source: Migration News Sheet, No.152/95-11 (MNS is avail-able at: 172-174, rue Joseph II, B-1040 Brussels, Tel/Fax: 32/2 2303750).