Switzerland opens its borders

[Tender Branson]

Switzerland, right in the heart of Europe, but not in the European Union, is opening its borders to EU member states. Under the Schengen Agreement, which Switzerland is joining, cross-border passport checks will be abolished.

The move is the latest in a long and complex series of bilateral agreements which the Swiss government has negotiated with Brussels, in order not to be isolated within Europe's powerful trade zone.



Expansion phases:

1995: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain
1997: Austria, Italy
2000: Greece      
2001: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
2007: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
2008: Switzerland

But the Swiss people have regularly indicated that they do not want their country to join the EU, so getting their agreement on something as sensitive as opening national borders was not easy.

"There was a highly controversial public debate," admits Urs Bucher, head of Switzerland's office of European Integration.

"Some people feared we would be opening our borders to criminals, and to thousands of illegal immigrants, but we are convinced this won't happen."

Increased security

In the end, the Swiss approved joining Schengen in a nationwide referendum. One factor which swayed voters was the fact that, by joining the Schengen area, Switzerland would have access to the Schengen Information System (SIS), a Europe-wide electronic database containing thousands of details of wanted or missing people, and stolen goods and vehicles.

"This is a very valuable contribution to our security," says Luzius Mader, deputy head of the Swiss justice and police department. "It will allow us to carry out police work much more effectively."

In practice, what Schengen means is a much less visible presence at the borders, and more selective but intense scrutiny behind the scenes. At Switzerland's border with France in Geneva, thousands of cars can now drive straight through, but mobile border patrols can still check anything they regard as suspicious.

story continues ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7778022.stm

[Silent Hunter]

This won't apply to those entering by air of course.

[Linus Van Pelt]

APPELEZ/CHIAMA/RUFEN LOU DOBBS AN!!!

[minionofmidas]

Switzerland, right in the heart of Europe

Uh, no. That's the spleen.

[Tender Branson]

Switzerland, right in the heart of Europe

Uh, no. That's the spleen.

Let's say the Czech Republic is the heart of Europe, Switzerland the spleen - what's Austria ?

[minionofmidas]

Switzerland, right in the heart of Europe

Uh, no. That's the spleen.

Let's say the Czech Republic is the heart of Europe, Switzerland the spleen - what's Austria ?

Frankfurt is the heart of Europe.

(sings...)
Im Herzen von Europa liegt mein Frankfurt am Main

[Silent Hunter]

Does that make Munich the beer belly?

[Middle-aged Europe]

Fcuk the EU! Schengen

Corrected your post for accuracy. Switzerland isn't part of the EU nor does it currently plan to become one.

[AkSaber]

I remember reading that Russia is having a more difficult time accessing the Kaliningrad Oblast of theirs, due to tighter border controls. Is that because of the Schengen Agreement, or just a problem within Russia?

[Tender Branson]

I remember reading that Russia is having a more difficult time accessing the Kaliningrad Oblast of theirs, due to tighter border controls. Is that because of the Schengen Agreement, or just a problem within Russia?

Yeah, they have problems because the Baltic states are no longer part of the Soviet Union. But the Russians can still access Kaliningrad via the "Finnisch Meerbusen".

[Franzl]

I don't really have a problem with Schengen, politically speaking. But something conservative in me misses border controls...simply tradition.

[Silent Hunter]

I don't really have a problem with Schengen, politically speaking. But something conservative in me misses border controls...simply tradition.

Same with me. My only passport stamps are from the US...

[Franzl]

I don't really have a problem with Schengen, politically speaking. But something conservative in me misses border controls...simply tradition.

Same with me. My only passport stamps are from the US...

I made a point of using my US passport to enter the UK last year in Edinburgh. Could have gotten through more quickly with the German one...but it was more fun that way

[Hash]

Ever seen a Jordanian entry visa? A Saudi exit-reentry visa?

[Franzl]

Ever seen a Jordanian entry visa? A Saudi exit-reentry visa?

Do I want to see those things?

[Hash]

Ever seen a Jordanian entry visa? A Saudi exit-reentry visa?

Do I want to see those things?

Jordanian visas are cool. It's basically a random entry stamp, with a lot of Arabic scribbles all over it, with a Jordanian postage stamp and about 3 other stamps all completed with scribbles. Takes up a whole page, of course.

Saudi visas take up a whole page and stick it in any random page. Atleast they're not that messy.

Bahraini customs put 60 stamps in there, IIRC.

[Iosif]

Passport stamps and visas are ace. I once got so many of them that I had to order a new passport.