France threatens to 'suspend' Schengen Treaty

[jimmy olsen]

Nullifcation! Mew!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8468981/France-threatens-to-suspend-Schengen-Treaty.html

France threatens to 'suspend' Schengen Treaty
France has threatened to abandon European Union freedom of movement by "suspending" Europe's Schengen Treaty due to an influx of Tunisian and Libyan migrants from Italy.

By Bruno Waterfield, Brussels 6:41PM BST 22 Apr 2011

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Italy has given up to 26,000 illegal migrants six-month residence permits, allowing them to travel freely in the border-free Schengen zone, which covers all EU countries except Britain and Ireland.

The decision to issue travel documents to the Tunisians and other Arab migrants has triggered a French warning over the 1995 treaty.

''It seems to us that we need to think about a mechanism that would allow us, when there is a systematic disruption at one of the EU's external borders, to intervene with a temporary suspension for as long as the disruption lasts," said an Elysée source.

Under the Schengen agreement, citizens in 25 EU nations are allowed to travel across borders without having their passports checked. Both Britain and Ireland chose not to join.

Germany has also threatened to reinstate border checks "against the interests" of the EU's free movement zone in the row with Italy over the residency permits.

The Italian authorities have insisted other European countries must help take the burden of refugees landing on the island of Lampedusa, off Tunisia.

Last weekend, French authorities, citing risks of disturbances to public order, refused to allow trains carrying the migrants to cross its border with Italy at Ventimiglia.

The border reopened to rail traffic within 24 hours but only after Rome lodged a formal diplomatic protest withParis.

[The Brain]

If we want to keep free movement within the EU we sure will need minefields and machineguns and the will to use them. We can't let outsiders in.

[Slargos]

I thought the established dogma was that we needed another 50 million of these lotto wins before 2050?

If they are such wonderful assets, why work so hard to keep them out?

[CountDeMoney]

Both Britain and Ireland chose not to join.

And good for them.  Shame it wasn't about joining the EU as a whole.

[Razgovory]

I wonder if this has anything to do with Romania becoming part of the Schengen area this year.

[Norgy]

I wonder if this has anything to do with Romania becoming part of the Schengen area this year.

It does. Indirectly.
But mostly it has to do with attempting to avoid the FN beating Sarkozy. To achieve that goal, Sarkozy must be Tough On, Well, Stuff.

[Slargos]

I wonder if this has anything to do with Romania becoming part of the Schengen area this year.

It does. Indirectly.
But mostly it has to do with attempting to avoid the FN beating Sarkozy. To achieve that goal, Sarkozy must be Tough On, Well, Stuff.

Classic Sarkozy. I doubt it will work this time. Times they are a-changing.

[Razgovory]

I wonder if this has anything to do with Romania becoming part of the Schengen area this year.

It does. Indirectly.
But mostly it has to do with attempting to avoid the FN beating Sarkozy. To achieve that goal, Sarkozy must be Tough On, Well, Stuff.

I read that the little guy is fairly unpopular right now in France.  His poll numbers were in the 20's.

[chipwich]

Yeesh, the Eu seems to be unraveling.

[Norgy]

As far as I've gathered, the most likely two candidates for the presidency are no longer a left and right candidate, but a right-winger against a fascist in a dress.

The National Front has removed itself somewhat from its old self and is eating away at the traditional base of the Sarkozy/De Gaulle/Chirac party, which is rural France.

I have no idea what the socialists have done to make themselves a fifth wheel on the ballot wagon, but there you go.

The FN has appeal with their style of homegrown xenophobia and conservatism, since it is easier to forgive oneself when voting for a woman. That should be a cue for all right-wing extremists - nominate a woman, and get votes.

[Razgovory]

Yeesh, the Eu seems to be unraveling.

I don't think anyone would want to undo the Eurozone.  That would really destroy the economies of Europe, and possibly the world.

[Fate]

That should be a cue for all right-wing extremists - nominate a woman, and get votes.

Hey, it almost worked in the US... 

[Sheilbh]

I have no idea what the socialists have done to make themselves a fifth wheel on the ballot wagon, but there you go.

They've not chosen a candidate yet.  Most of the major candidates - Kahn and the like - are polling ahead of Sarko and Le Pen I believe.  Which would be Sarko's ultimate humiliation.

[DGuller]

Doesn't this treaty make any country's borders as secure as the weakest link?  Once illegal immigrants make it into a revolving door country, they're free to go to any other country that signed the treaty.

[Warspite]

Doesn't this treaty make any country's borders as secure as the weakest link?  Once illegal immigrants make it into a revolving door country, they're free to go to any other country that signed the treaty.

Yes but in theory there are meant to be common border standards, which are a precondition for joining Schengen.