NCJ Number
135518
Date Published
1992
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Most European countries are committed to eliminating their frontier controls, although Britain, Ireland, Denmark, and Greece have expressed reservations over the aim of implementing the Single European Act that calls for abolishing internal European Community (EC) border controls.
Abstract
The debate not only reflects differences in constitutional and legal systems but also differences in political geography. It is notable that the countries expressing reservations share no land border, or only a limited border, with other EC member states. The argument that abolishing frontier controls is dangerous is simple and attractive; no one wants to see crime, drug trafficking, or terrorism increase. The British Customs Service claims to intercept up to 20 percent of illegal drug shipments although other European services tend toward a lower figure of 5 percent. Migration is also a potential danger; national governments estimate there are approximately 8.5 million non-EC citizens living inside the European Community. In addition, about 10 million living outside existing German borders have the right to citizenship under the German constitution. Instability in the Soviet Union, the Balkans, the Middle East, and North Africa create potential sources of migration into the EC. EC members have concluded that intelligence is the key to defeating transnational crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. An information system known as the Schengen System has been devised to provide data to border control authorities. The implementation of EC legislation versus domestic legislation in the individual countries is discussed.