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ČR poised to join Schengen

EU official says member inequality is unacceptable

By Kimberly Ashton
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
June 20th, 2007 issue

The Czech Republic is well on track to join the Schengen border-free zone by the end of this year, EU Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini said June 14 after meeting with Justice Minister Jiří Pospíšil and Interior Minister Ivan Langer at Hrzánský Palace.
The country is set to join the 15-country Schengen group Dec. 31, but airport borders won’t be lifted until March, Frattini said. This means that after these dates people entering the Czech Republic from other Schengen countries will not have to show their passports, and Czechs will gain the same right in those countries.
The Schengen Information System II, a massive database with millions of names and criminal records that will be shared among member states, is set to be operational by December 2008, Frattini said.
He also addressed the issue of visa waivers, calling on Canada and the United States to allow visa-free travel for all European Union members.
“Our first political goal is to overcome inequality between old member states and new member states — that is no longer acceptable,” he said.
Lastly, the commissioner addressed the issue of extradition, alluding to the recent infamous Radovan Krejčíř and Viktor Kožený criminal cases, and said it is “absolutely necessary” that the EU improve cooperation in this area and “to manage the consequences of transnational cases.”
“One very important political goal of the Czech Republic’s presidency will be how to find the right balance between security and other political liberties,” Frattini said.
The Czech Republic assumes the presidency of the EU in 2009.
 

Kimberly Ashton can be reached at kashton@praguepost.com


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