Brussels defends Dutch border control project

Concerns about allegedly illegal border checks being carried out in the Schengen visa-free area resurfaced on 4 July 2012 in the European Parliament, when MEPs raised the issue of mobile surveillance controls along Dutch borders and German authorities checking Czech buses in a debate with the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.

MEPs from most political groups criticised this and called on member states to respect Parliament's right to legislate on arrangements for evaluating the functioning of the Schengen visa-free travel agreement.

Concerning mobile surveillance in the Netherlands, the Commission said the controls did not represent a violation of the Schengen borders code, although a court judgement on the case was still due.

ESO: Background information: Netherlands defends border control project http://www.europeansources.info/record/netherlands-defends-border-control-project/

European Parliament: Press Release, 5.7.12: MEPs call on Commission to do more to defend free movement http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/content/20120628STO47903/

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