The European Union has requested from Denmark written guarantees that its temporary restoration of border controls will not affect freedom of movement under the Schengen Agreement, an EU source told RIA Novosti on Friday.
The EU proposed in early May that border controls be temporarily reintroduced in the Schengen free travel zone in exceptional circumstances in response to complaints from France and Italy over illegal immigrants fleeing turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East.
Denmark on Thursday said its intention to restore customs control on the border with Germany and Sweden will not entail passport checks and personal searches. The plan to toughen border control was forwarded by the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party.
Danish Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs Soeren Pind said Thursday Denmark will only toughen customs control, with customs officials inspecting suspicious cars with scanners.
BRUSSELS, May 13 (RIA Novosti)