Commission asks Denmark to clarify border measures

Legal assessment casts doubts over compliance with internal market laws.

The European Commission today raised doubts whether Danish plans to reintroduce border checks complied with EU legislation.

José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, asked for more information on the measures from Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Danish prime minister, in a telephone call on Friday, according to a spokesperson for Barroso.

The spokesperson said Barroso would also send a letter to the Danish government asking for more details of the measures later today (13 May). Cecilia Malmström, the European commissioner for home affairs, said on Thursday (12 May) that the Commission had started a review of the measures, which have not yet come into force.

Barroso’s spokesperson said the Commission had “expressed its concern” over the announced measures “which appear to put into question” the smooth functioning of the EU’s free movement rules for goods, services and people.

Legal assessment

Barroso has already received a first legal assessment from Commission services, which raised doubts over whether the measures complied with EU internal market legislation and the rules of the Schengen free movement area, the spokesperson said.

She said that the Danish prime minister had assured Barroso the new measures would “fully respect” EU legislation. She added that the Commission would call on Denmark “to refrain from unilateral steps and to engage with the European Commission in an open dialogue prior to implementing any measures” to ensure they comply with EU rules.

The Danish government informed the Commission on Wednesday it was planning to re-establish border controls, a move which has been criticised by other EU member states.

The measures are part of a wider deal reached between the Danish government and the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party (DPP) on a package of budgetary and pension reforms. In exchange for the DPP’s support, Denmark’s minority centre-right coalition government agreed to demands for tougher border checks.

Cross-border crime

The Danish government said the checks were needed to combat the cross-border drugs and weapons trade as well as human trafficking. The move foresees the use of more customs officials and video surveillance at land borders with Germany and Sweden.

Søren Pind, the Danish minister responsible for immigration, said the measures concerned areas not regulated under the Schengen accord, notably customs checks on goods. He said the checks would not include the re-imposition of passport controls.

Denmark is a member of the EU’s Schengen agreement, which abolished border controls between 25 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

Click Here: Cheap FIJI Rugby Jersey