Border checks in Germany and Austria despite Schengen

Michal Pavec
20. 5. 2008 16:00
Drivers, passengers complain of unnecessary controls
Foto: Ondřej Besperát

Prague - European Parliament Member Zuzana Roithová from the Christian Democratic Party (KDU-ČSL) protested against an increased number of controls of Czech travellers to Germany and Austria.

The issue was raised for the first time by Interior Minister Ivan Langer last week.

"Controls introduced by Germans and Austrians at borders with the Czech Republic are not in accord with the Schengen agreement - the number of border guards was not reduced [after Czech Republic joined the zone], they were only moved inland," explained Roithová.

The parliament member reacted to an increasing number of complains raised by Czech drivers about controls that are more frequent and vehement than common road checks in the past.

Minister: Report all abuse!

According to Interior Ministry, regular bus routes from the Czech Republic are also subjected to such systematic controls that resemble border checks. 

Langer has already discussed the issue with his Austrian counterpart Günther Platter. Last week, he also called on Czech drivers to report all instances of abuse by German or Austrian police to Czech authorities .

Roithová reiterated this advice.

"Transport Ministry should thoroughly examine all complaints of Czech drivers, and if they find the controls by German and Austrian border patrols to be deviating from standards, it should stand up for Czech citizens on the EU level - for example, at the meeting of the Council of the European Union," said Roithová.

 

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