Schengen given up
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Until 2020 Gibraltar was part of the European Union, having joined the European Community (the forerunner to the European Union) through European Communities Act 1972 (UK), which gave effect to the Treaty of Accession 1972, as a dependent territory of the United Kingdom.
In 2016 95.91% of Gibraltar residents voted to remain in the EU, therefore you can't vote to remain in something if you are not already a part of it
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The usual conflating of Schengen and the EU, alas. The UK was in the EU but never in Schengen, which was freely open borders.
With such controls reintroduced at short notice "for the duration", I wonder where EU countries get the border control staff from. The UK Border Agency seems to have the most enormous difficulty in providing even standard levels of staffing to avoid multi-hour queues (Stansted at midnight in September, with flight levels known all year, looking at you). Yet apparently in mainland Europe they can provide this extra staffing without issue.
With such controls reintroduced at short notice "for the duration", I wonder where EU countries get the border control staff from. The UK Border Agency seems to have the most enormous difficulty in providing even standard levels of staffing to avoid multi-hour queues (Stansted at midnight in September, with flight levels known all year, looking at you). Yet apparently in mainland Europe they can provide this extra staffing without issue.
You seem to misunderstand the link you provided. There is no plan to check everyone crossing internal borders. But border-crossing traffic CAN be checked. It does not even need to happen right at the border. If the German border control suspects illegal crossings and activities they do it inland, a few kilometers past the border.
Anyway, why would Schengen countries need a lot of staff at airports? Most Schengen travelers are EU citizens and can use e-gates.
Anyway, why would Schengen countries need a lot of staff at airports? Most Schengen travelers are EU citizens and can use e-gates.
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You blasting across at a very brave 100kph for cheap fuel or a supermarket shop aren't exactly the target demographic.
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Less Hair, you seem to be being a bit difficult, awkward, or pedantic. Of course they can't stop every car crossing the border. My point is black Merc S classes or V class vans with pilots seem to be the targets, and they're targeting air crew crossing borders in Europe who shouldn't be, and/or don't have EU passports. The Brits seem to be getting particularly interrogated.
You blasting across at a very brave 100kph for cheap fuel or a supermarket shop aren't exactly the target demographic.
You blasting across at a very brave 100kph for cheap fuel or a supermarket shop aren't exactly the target demographic.
like I said: I cross that border very often! And very very seldom do I see police, marechaussee or customs.
You seem to misunderstand the link you provided. There is no plan to check everyone crossing internal borders. But border-crossing traffic CAN be checked. It does not even need to happen right at the border. If the German border control suspects illegal crossings and activities they do it inland, a few kilometers past the border..
FWIW there's also a watch kept on the same border for foot traffic using helicopter and the odd foot patrol..
https://actu.fr/societe/hautes-pyren..._46934217.html
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I was actually hopeful to consider, rather than getting into yet another B****t for/against slanging match, what the implications are for airports, where many have dismantled border control equipment for Schengen arrivals, and segregated these from non-Schengen ones, when such checks are reinstated. Likewise for departures within Schengen, where full visa etc checks may be required rather than just ID checks.
Schengen is alive and well, some additional checks, as allowed by the agreement, are taking place at some airports. I travel regularly through some of these airports, the only thing I noticed is occasionally 5-10 minutes extra wait and/or 50m extra walk. End of story.
The usual conflating of Schengen and the EU, alas. The UK was in the EU but never in Schengen, which was freely open borders.
With such controls reintroduced at short notice "for the duration", I wonder where EU countries get the border control staff from. The UK Border Agency seems to have the most enormous difficulty in providing even standard levels of staffing to avoid multi-hour queues (Stansted at midnight in September, with flight levels known all year, looking at you). Yet apparently in mainland Europe they can provide this extra staffing without issue.
With such controls reintroduced at short notice "for the duration", I wonder where EU countries get the border control staff from. The UK Border Agency seems to have the most enormous difficulty in providing even standard levels of staffing to avoid multi-hour queues (Stansted at midnight in September, with flight levels known all year, looking at you). Yet apparently in mainland Europe they can provide this extra staffing without issue.
Schengen treaty was never meant to abandon border control - it was merely shifted from border crossings. Many new dedicated police stations sprung up due to this shift throughout the Schengen countries and police officers there are trained and equipped to do border checks - and they do it regularly, only not at the borders but inlands and checks are targeted on specific locations, vehicles, etc.... based on intelligence. And they can move swiftly to border crossings, if necessary. The main thing of Schengen is centralised information system. I can`t go into details, but I hope you get the picture.
Member states can reinstate limited border controls whenever necessary, like during terror defence or now with a new wave of refugees coming. This is why they had to formally announce recent (limited) controls.
Most of the controls were moved to hinterland patrols and to Schengen area outer border surveillance. I remember at French airports, their airport police reserve staff did most of the interim controls.
Most of the controls were moved to hinterland patrols and to Schengen area outer border surveillance. I remember at French airports, their airport police reserve staff did most of the interim controls.
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The most significant non-Schengen behaviour I experienced however is travelling by train from Austria (Salzburg) back into Germany. German police board and check all ID. Happened twice now so not just a one-off. You also need to don your Covid mask, but I guess that's a separate issue. Again, nothing in the other direction. All seems very asymmetric, so I assume has something to do with migrant flows rather than anything else.
That is just the federal state of Bavaria doing things his own way - having a reputation for this. In fact they restarted autobahn checkpoints some time ago to fight illegal immigration causing huge traffic jams. However this is not a federal policy, while having to wear masks on long range trains is.
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"while having to wear masks on long range trains"
As far as I knw masks must be worn on ALL public transport in Germany. A few weeks ago we had to wear masks on an outdoors chairlift there.
As far as I knw masks must be worn on ALL public transport in Germany. A few weeks ago we had to wear masks on an outdoors chairlift there.
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The most significant non-Schengen behaviour I experienced however is travelling by train from Austria (Salzburg) back into Germany. German police board and check all ID. Happened twice now so not just a one-off. You also need to don your Covid mask, but I guess that's a separate issue. Again, nothing in the other direction. All seems very asymmetric, so I assume has something to do with migrant flows rather than anything else.
The Mask is a separate issue though.
Again those controls are done by Bayerische Grenzpolizei by order of the local state government of Bavaria. They are playing games with Austria about borders after Austria invented fees for their autobahn use while driving for free in Germany and closed long distance roads used as bypasses within Austria.
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There is a new friction point just set up today, or yesterday, at the border between Northern Italy and France. News of delays as France is making thorough inspections to people coming from Italy.
It seems that France is very upset with Italy for the fact that it recently volunteered to accept 230 migrants that the Ocean Viking was hoping to disembark in Italy.
At the end of the day, so far during this year of 2022, Italy has only accepted 86000 migrants in its ports, therefore, it is difficult for the French government to understand why Italy refused those 230 migrants that went to France.
It seems that France is very upset with Italy for the fact that it recently volunteered to accept 230 migrants that the Ocean Viking was hoping to disembark in Italy.
At the end of the day, so far during this year of 2022, Italy has only accepted 86000 migrants in its ports, therefore, it is difficult for the French government to understand why Italy refused those 230 migrants that went to France.
Last edited by zerograv; 14th Nov 2022 at 15:40. Reason: grammar
