The eastern borders of the EU, beyond which lie the countries of the former Soviet Union, are the biggest concern for Europeans. The EU fears that political instability and a weak economy in states such as Ukraine and Belarus could provoke an increase in illegal immigration. The security of external borders is to be ensured in the future by an updated version of the Schengen Information System (SIS II). But few in Brussels believe that the development of the program will be completed by 2007. Meanwhile, the European Union has no choice but to provide feasible assistance to its new members in the intensive guarding of their borders.
And they stretch for many thousands of kilometers. On the relatively small territory of Slovenia alone, control will have to be carried out along 770 km of its common border with Croatia. The European Union is allocating about 960 million euros until 2006 so that EU candidates can prepare for their new task - guarding the now common European frontiers. With this money, they can modernize border sections, purchase equipment, and train personnel.
The countries of the current Schengen Agreement monitor the adequate use of the funds provided. They will first have to verify the reliable and dependable operation of the new version of the SIS II computer system. Then the security of the EU's external borders will be subjected to strictest control. And only then, having confirmed their reliability, the participants of the Schengen Agreement will vote on admitting new EU member states into the visa-free travel zone. The decision is made on the condition of complete unanimity.
So traveling through Europe without having to stop at borders remains a matter of the distant future for now. Moreover, not all current members of the European Union have signed the Schengen Agreement. Great Britain and Ireland have reserved the right to border control on their borders with the EU. And among the participants of the agreement there are two countries that are not in the EU - Norway and Iceland.
Visas for border regions
The admission of new members to the European Union, scheduled for May 1, 2004, will shift its borders eastward. Therefore, people who live in close proximity to the new EU borders may soon be affected by new visa rules. Describing the prospects of the new visa regime, Laura Corrado, an expert on visa issues at the European Commission, announced the planned introduction of a new visa for residents of border regions.
It is expected to be a special visa. Possibly in the form of a stamp in the passport in the shape of the Latin letter 'L', which means a local regime. Thus, the border guard will know what is allowed to the holder of this visa.
And here is what will be allowed to him. The holder of the so-called local visa will be able to cross the border of a new EU member state every day for one to five years, but without moving more than 50 km away from it. The right to obtain the entry document will be given to Ukrainians, Russians, or Belarusians permanently residing in border regions. To do so, they will need to meet one of three conditions: have family members, a place of work, or property on the other side of the border. The holder of the document will be able to stay in the neighboring country for seven days, but in total no more than three months over a six-month period.
The same strict control measures that apply to the issuance of a regular Schengen visa will apply to cross-border movement. Only those who have lived in the border region for at least a year will be able to obtain a local visa. Thus, European Commission experts intend to prevent the possibility of abuse of this document by refugees and illegal migrants. According to Laura Corrado, the new visa is no different from others, although it will be issued free of charge and for a longer period. But this does not mean that the adopted security and verification measures will not be observed when it is issued.
Border control between new and old members of the European Union will last at least until the beginning of 2007. Only after this period, as expected, will the electronic information system controlling the issuance of visas by the Schengen Agreement countries take effect in the new EU countries. The proposal on border movement must still be approved by the EU Council. Laura Corrado hopes that this will happen in the run-up to the accession of new members to the European Union on May 1 of next year. If the introduction of the new visa regime does not fit into this timeframe, then even for cross-border communication it will be necessary to obtain an expensive Schengen visa.
Based on materials from "Deutsche Welle"