'Strict but fair' EU border controls will help Britons

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 23rd Jun 2005

After successful negotiations with the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament has approved a new Code of clearer rules on external border checks for entry to the EU 'Schengen' area in which internal border controls are abolished (and to which the UK does not belong). These rules both ensure strict controls and safeguard the rights of individuals.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, London MEP and Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman, said:

"British citizens and foreigners legally resident in Britain will be affected by this Code, since we are all to subject to passport and border checks when travelling to the Continent. It is therefore extremely important that MEPs successfully demanded that checks must be non-discriminatory. "

"This provision is a protection for 'foreign-looking' persons who are much more likely to be arbitrarily stopped, checked and turned away."

"While strong external border controls are a necessary counterpart to the removal of internal borders across the Schengen area, this must not be at the expense of civil liberties."

Immigration officers will have to give precise and justified written reasons for refusal of entry to the EU Schengen area, and those refused will have a right of appeal. Statistics on numbers and grounds of refusal will have to be supplied to the European Commission.

Sarah Ludford added: "This effective code, coupled with other measures like the setting up of the European Border Agency, ought to encourage the UK government to consider anew its attitude to joining the 'Schengen area'. Membership would make life easier for British travellers."

ENDS

Note: The Regulation will enter into force early next year. It will apply to the border controls of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and all EU Member States except the UK and Ireland, which do not belong to the Schengen area since they want to maintain their own border controls. The Code contains a 'conduct of checks' clause recalling the obligation not to discriminate on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.