France threatens to 'suspend' Schengen Treaty

[alfred russel]

Ok I suppose for someone traveling out of the EU it's a pain, but as I said, there is no difference for a EU citizen - whether I travelled to Spain (which is in Schengen) or the UK (which is not), the procedure was pretty much similar - just show an ID to an official at the airport and I'm through (in one case it was the airport official, in the other it was a border officer, though).

I'm not sure why there would be a difference. As a US passport holder, basically all I need to do now is show ID (a passport). But the airline still needs to pre clear us (until they see my passport they don't know if I'm from the US or Nigeria, or if I even have a passport/any ID), I still need to go through the stamp lines, and I still need to go through customs. How would things be different, other than possibly allowing EU citizens to use more types of ID (I'm really not sure)?

[Sheilbh]

Also are you sure this is Schengen-related and not freedom of movement related?

Non-EU citizens only need one visa to travel through all Schengen countries.  Regardless of free movement they'll still need to follow other countries visa rules, so they'll need one for the UK (or Poland?) if those countries don't have a visa waiver in place.  It doesn't make a difference for EU citizens or ones from countries with visa waivers, like the US, but it saves a lot of time for that Mexican businessman (or Chinese tourist) to only need to get one visa form not five or what have you.

[Zanza2]

Also are you sure this is Schengen-related and not freedom of movement related?

Freedom of movement is much more than a Schengen visa. The latter just allows foreigners to visit several European countries with one visa for a limited period of time. The former allows European citizens to settle and work wherever they want in the EU indefinitely. There is also the difference that the first is a right of European citizens, whereas the latter is a privilege extended to foreigners at discretion of the various states.

So what Alfred refers to is indeed the Schengen visa and has nothing to do at all with Freedom of Movement.

[derspiess]

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

No idea?  Really?? 

[The Larch]

AFAIK, what they're touting is a temporary suspension of Schengen, which is a mechanism already contemplated in the treaty for special events or somesuch.

[Tamas]

AFAIK, what they're touting is a temporary suspension of Schengen, which is a mechanism already contemplated in the treaty for special events or somesuch.

Yeah but in fact they are saying that if there is a big humanitarian crisis on the outer border of the EU (or just in a member state in general), lets just abandon the affected members, and have everyone turtle up independently

That's fuckin' defeats the whole purpose of the whole thing.

[The Larch]

AFAIK, what they're touting is a temporary suspension of Schengen, which is a mechanism already contemplated in the treaty for special events or somesuch.

Yeah but in fact they are saying that if there is a big humanitarian crisis on the outer border of the EU (or just in a member state in general), lets just abandon the affected members, and have everyone turtle up independently

That's fuckin' defeats the whole purpose of the whole thing.

Well, it's not as if they'll do anything for real besides posing. Sarko just wants to look Tough on Stuff.

[Tamas]

AFAIK, what they're touting is a temporary suspension of Schengen, which is a mechanism already contemplated in the treaty for special events or somesuch.

Yeah but in fact they are saying that if there is a big humanitarian crisis on the outer border of the EU (or just in a member state in general), lets just abandon the affected members, and have everyone turtle up independently

That's fuckin' defeats the whole purpose of the whole thing.

Well, it's not as if they'll do anything for real besides posing. Sarko just wants to look Tough on Stuff.

Sure. It's just that lately I have grown tired of the "let them talk shit they won't do it" attitude. It doesn't work and it's dangerous.

[Norgy]

No idea?  Really?? 

No, not really, if it was Female Hitler vs Ridiculous Little Man. Seems like it isn't. 

[Slargos]

AFAIK, what they're touting is a temporary suspension of Schengen, which is a mechanism already contemplated in the treaty for special events or somesuch.

Yeah but in fact they are saying that if there is a big humanitarian crisis on the outer border of the EU (or just in a member state in general), lets just abandon the affected members, and have everyone turtle up independently

That's fuckin' defeats the whole purpose of the whole thing.

Well, it's not as if they'll do anything for real besides posing. Sarko just wants to look Tough on Stuff.

Sure. It's just that lately I have grown tired of the "let them talk shit they won't do it" attitude. It doesn't work and it's dangerous.

I'd be more worried the day politicians actually start doing what they promise since 90% of it is usually election pork.