Schengen RIP (1995 - 2011)?

mike65

Well that didn't take long! Whatever one thinks about Schengen and our lack of participation you'd have thought Europes leaders would have held out in the face of immigrant fear and paranoia a bit longer. While everyone is paying lip service after todays meeting, I suspect this is the start of the beginning of the end for the agreement as it's been operating up till now.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13372118

EU ministers say the rules for Europe's passport-free Schengen zone need to be clarified to deter countries from unilaterally reimposing border checks.

The home affairs ministers met to review the 25-nation Schengen accord because of tensions over this year's influx of migrants from North Africa.

There was "unanimous" agreement that freedom of movement must be preserved, an official statement said.

But the EU aims to clarify the rules about temporary border controls.

"We must not weaken Schengen in any way. But we need to amend some of the loopholes by better governance," said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom after the meeting in Brussels.

She called for a robust EU "community mechanism" to decide on exceptional cases where states may reimpose border controls temporarily.

"There was a clear position from every minister: the free movement of people is one of the Union's key achievements and we have to maintain and safeguard this," Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter said.

Italy and Malta, on the immigration frontline, are urging their EU partners to help them more.

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Malmström seems to be of the opinion that Schengen will be strengthened. Since she would have attended the Council Meeting, presumably she has a reasonable idea of what is likely to happen.

Her blog post on it is here.

Denerick

The recent blather about illegal immigration is a reflection of the rise of the populist right across Europe. Ordinary European citizens have rejected the last vestiges of social liberalism and are determined to turn in on themselves just as the developing world begins to realise its destiny. Europe will not thrive in an environment where its borders are protected by paranoid governments and even more paranoid citizens. We need an influx of both low and highly skilled workers to replenish our declining and aging populations and to boost creativity in what is rapidly becoming a more stagnant continental society. Unfortunately parochialism dictates that we reject the obvious solution to our long term demographic crisis - ie, massive and unprecedented levels of immigration.

ray011

Denerick wrote: »

The recent blather about illegal immigration is a reflection of the rise of the populist right across Europe. Ordinary European citizens have rejected the last vestiges of social liberalism and are determined to turn in on themselves just as the developing world begins to realise its destiny. Europe will not thrive in an environment where its borders are protected by paranoid governments and even more paranoid citizens. We need an influx of both low and highly skilled workers to replenish our declining and aging populations and to boost creativity in what is rapidly becoming a more stagnant continental society. Unfortunately parochialism dictates that we reject the obvious solution to our long term demographic crisis - ie, massive and unprecedented levels of immigration.

I am delighted Denmark has decided to tighten its border controls. Hopefully all other countries will follow suit. I believe if everyone nationality stayed in the place they were born including the Irish the world would be a much more peaceful and better place to live in.
long live nationalism and national identity.

Denerick

ray011 wrote: »

I am delighted Denmark has decided to tighten its border controls. Hopefully all other countries will follow suit. I believe if everyone nationality stayed in the place they were born including the Irish the world would be a much more peaceful and better place to live in.
long live nationalism and national identity.

If everyone stayed in the place they were born the effects on trade, creativity, innovation and mutual prosperity would be truly disastrous. You haven't thought this through at all. You are essentially arguing for a return to a feudal society where peasants never leave the villages of their birth. It is a profoundly stupid and small minded view, and its exactly the kind of obscuritanism that will get us all killed some day. I truly believe that.

mike65

And this from a Viking (?)