travel within the european union

[royzart]

Hi...i was wondering,do i need a passport to
travel within the european union...say from uk to our
27 european member states...thank you

[Sonyme]

YES!!

[DTCwordfan]

No!!! If he is an illegal immigrant.

[Postdog]

A valid blockbuster card and two utility bills might do

[DTCwordfan]

Lol - Postdog!!

[Buenchico]

From its inception, it was always the aim of the EU that their should be no border controls when travelling within the member states. 25 of the members have now signed up to the relevant provisions of the Schengen Treaty, so anyone (even non-EU citizens) can travel freely between, for example, Sweden and Portugal or France and Slovakia. (That statement refers to the restrictions, or lack of them, applied by immigration authorities. Airlines and other carriers might still require some form of ID).

Only two EU countries haven't signed up to 'Schengen'. One of them, Ireland, would like to do so but it can't because it has an existing 'open border' agreement with the ONLY EU country which still refuses to sign up to Schengen. That, of course, is the UK. (Our politicians are too terrified of the rantings of the Daily Mail, etc to propose joining Schengen). So UK (and Irish citizens) have been left disadvantaged.

Even before the Schengen agreement, any EU citizen could use their national identity card, instead of a passport, to travel within the EU. (That remains true). So, for example, a French citizen doesn't need a passport to travel between France and the UK (or vice versa). He can simply show his national identity card. But, because our coalition Government has abandoned the introduction of ID cards (which would have been far cheaper than a passport) UK citizens can't do the same.

So UK citizens require a passport to travel to ANY other country (except Ireland).

Chris

[KARL]

Chris's well put summary is of course entirely correct, and I share his implied sentiment regarding the present situation. However, the fact is that UK politicians' overall position derives not so much from their assessment of the media but the sentiment among a large section of the electorate - in fact, the media too are simply stoking what they know is antipathy among the public. In Britain very many people have a curiously conservative outlook and actually practice the reverse of "change for change's sake" and resist all change because it is change - a sizeable portion of the British face backward in life. Politicians will only risk upsetting this if they think there is an electoral bonus to follow, almost all of them try to read what people want and then jump on that wagon - very few have the courage of any convictions to the contrary. For the most part the "popular" media simply pump out what (they hope the majority of) people want to hear.

[CanisMajor]

come on Chris, if we joined shengen we'd sink! Have you noticed northern France perchance?! The basic problem is that we give free money to anyone. I don't believe the Shengen countries have anything like our soft touch benefit system.

[CanisMajor]

come on karl, if politicians did what was popular we'd not even be in the EU and we'd have capital punishment!

[New Judge]

“...UK politicians' overall position derives not so much from their assessment of the media but the sentiment among a large section of the electorate...”

Oh dear! Members of Parliament reflecting (for once) the wishes of their constituents! What an outrage!

“[The British public]... resist all change because it is change - a sizeable portion of the British face backward in life.

Maybe so on some issues, but not this one, Karl. The British public know that the UK’s borders are porous enough as it is without making movement easier. Schengen allows free movement not only of EU citizens, but of all people in the area. Once they’re in, they are free to go anywhere. The recent reaction of the French government in temporarily closing their border with Italy when faced with a wave of migrants from North Africa demonstrates the weakness of Schengen. It also illustrates perfectly the philosophy behind many things European. All the impositions, freedoms and restrictions are fine and dandy for the other nations, but if they adversely affect France or Germany.....!