Concern for Schengen as Sweden, Denmark tighten borders

Migrant crisis

AFP, COPENHAGEN: Sweden on Monday imposed controls on travellers arriving from Denmark to try to curb an influx of refugees, prompting knock-on measures from Denmark that triggered fresh concern for Europe’s Schengen passport-free zone.
Hours after the Swedish controls on a major bridge-and-tunnel link went into effect, Denmark, which fears being saddled with large numbers of migrants, announced it too would implement spot checks on its border with Germany.
Alarmed by the restrictions, which come as both Germany and Sweden grapple with record migrant numbers, Berlin warned Europe’s Schengen zone was “in danger”.
“Freedom of movement is an important principle—one of the biggest achievements (in the European Union) in recent years,” German foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer told reporters.
“Schengen is very important but it is in danger,” he said.
Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen cited the Swedish checks to justify his country’s immediate introduction of random border controls.
“We are simply reacting to a decision made in Sweden ... This is not a happy moment at all,” he said.
Rasmussen warned Sweden’s controls could have a domino effect on Denmark, which received just 18,000 asylum requests in 2015, compared to Sweden’s estimated 160,000.
Brussels has granted Sweden a six-month exemption from the Schengen agreement on free circulation to allow it carry out ID checks on all travellers arriving from Denmark.
Extra security staff were on hand Monday at the Danish side of the Oresund crossing, a major entry point for migrants and refugees hoping to start a new life in Sweden. The controls had proceeded smoothly by midday, but travellers were warned to expect longer queues and delays during the afternoon rush hour when commuters with jobs in Denmark return home to Sweden.
Under the new rules, rail passengers have to exit the train and clear checkpoints before boarding again—the first time in more than 50 years travellers between the two countries have been checked.
Those without valid ID will be refused entry. A private security company checked and photographed traveller IDs before allowing passengers on trains.
Officials at Danish train operator DSB confirmed they had seen a handful of people turned away, but would not specify if they were migrants or just commuters lacking proper ID.
“If they don’t have photo ID then we say sorry, we can’t let you on board,” DSB spokesman Tony Bispeskov said.
Rasmus Sandberg, a 25-year-old sergeant in the Danish military, was headed to Sweden for holiday and said he had not experienced any significant delay. “I was afraid that it would take some time and that I wouldn’t reach the train but it was no problem,” he said.
The measures come after Sweden—which has taken in more asylum seekers per capita than any other European nation—said it could no longer cope with the unregulated flow of new arrivals.
A temporary fence has already been erected at Copenhagen airport’s Kastrup station, where trains will be stopped for mandatory controls.
“It’s as if we are building a Berlin Wall here. We are going several steps back in time,” said Michael Randropp, a spokesman for the local Kystbanen commuters’ association. Several other European Union countries, including Germany, Austria and France, also re-imposed border checks last year as the continent grappled with its biggest refugee crisis since World War II.
More than one million migrants reached Europe in 2015, most of whom were refugees fleeing war and violence in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
Sweden, a country of 9.8 million people known for its generous asylum policies, took in an estimated 160,000 asylum seekers last year alone.
But the inflow has strained the country's capacity to take care of the newcomers and authorities recently warned they would no longer be able to provide housing for everyone.

Concern for Schengen as Sweden, Denmark tighten borders

Migrant crisis

AFP, COPENHAGEN: Sweden on Monday imposed controls on travellers arriving from Denmark to try to curb an influx of refugees, prompting knock-on measures from Denmark that triggered fresh concern for Europes Schengen passport-free zone. Hours after the Swedish controls on a major bridge-and-tunnel link went into effect, Denmark, which fears being saddled with large numbers of migrants, announced it too would implement spot checks on its border with Germany. Alarmed by the restrictions, which come as both Germany and Sweden grapple with record migrant numbers, Berlin warned Europes Schengen zone was in danger. Freedom of movement is an important principleone of the biggest achievements (in the European Union) in recent years, German foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer told reporters. Schengen is very important but it is in danger, he said. Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen cited the Swedish checks to justify his countrys immediate introduction of random border controls. We are simply reacting to a decision made in Sweden ... This is not a happy moment at all, he said. Rasmussen warned Swedens controls could have a domino effect on Denmark, which received just 18,000 asylum requests in 2015, compared to Swedens estimated 160,000. Brussels has granted Sweden a six-month exemption from the Schengen agreement on free circulation to allow it carry out ID checks on all travellers arriving from Denmark. Extra security staff were on hand Monday at the Danish side of the Oresund crossing, a major entry point for migrants and refugees hoping to start a new life in Sweden. The controls had proceeded smoothly by midday, but travellers were warned to expect longer queues and delays during the afternoon rush hour when commuters with jobs in Denmark return home to Sweden. Under the new rules, rail passengers have to exit the train and clear checkpoints before boarding againthe first time in more than 50 years travellers between the two countries have been checked. Those without valid ID will be refused entry. A private security company checked and photographed traveller IDs before allowing passengers on trains. Officials at Danish train operator DSB confirmed they had seen a handful of people turned away, but would not specify if they were migrants or just commuters lacking proper ID. If they dont have photo ID then we say sorry, we cant let you on board, DSB spokesman Tony Bispeskov said. Rasmus Sandberg, a 25-year-old sergeant in the Danish military, was headed to Sweden for holiday and said he had not experienced any significant delay. I was afraid that it would take some time and that I wouldnt reach the train but it was no problem, he said. The measures come after Swedenwhich has taken in more asylum seekers per capita than any other European nationsaid it could no longer cope with the unregulated flow of new arrivals. A temporary fence has already been erected at Copenhagen airports Kastrup station, where trains will be stopped for mandatory controls. Its as if we are building a Berlin Wall here. We are going several steps back in time, said Michael Randropp, a spokesman for the local Kystbanen commuters association. Several other European Union countries, including Germany, Austria and France, also re-imposed border checks last year as the continent grappled with its biggest refugee crisis since World War II. More than one million migrants reached Europe in 2015, most of whom were refugees fleeing war and violence in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, according to the United Nations refugee agency. Sweden, a country of 9.8 million people known for its generous asylum policies, took in an estimated 160,000 asylum seekers last year alone. But the inflow has strained the countrys capacity to take care of the newcomers and authorities recently warned they would no longer be able to provide housing for everyone.