Very soon, Malta will be able to lift its border controls since it passed the required standards to join the Schengen zone. The development follows positive results of various inspections carried out by EU officials in Malta and in its overseas representations over the past two years.
The Schengen Treaty (named after the tiny village in Luxembourg where the Benelux countries first decided to lift their border controls), is an agreement between EU member states setting out common border control rules with the main objective being the abolition of passport checks on travellers and providing tighter controls on the area’s fringes as well as closer cooperation between police forces.
This will mean that we will integrate with the EU and, moreover, Maltese citizens will have the same treatment abroad as other EU citizens with hassle-free travelling, while at the same time, strengthening controls on external borders. This leads to further cooperation between police forces, customs and the judiciary from across the EU in taking additional steps to combat problems such as terrorism and organised crime and drug trafficking.
In order to become eligible for Schengen entry, Malta had to implement a series of measures over the past years, particularly at the airport and the harbours, its main points of entry.
The entry in the Schengen zone will leave an effect on the population. The most noticed outcome would be the travelling to Schengen countries without any controls. This will make it easier both for Maltese business people and for holidaymakers when travelling abroad, reducing the amount of time one spends in passport control. Ease of movement is good for business allowing workers, particularly lorry drivers, to move more quickly and easily across the continent. This is important for achieving the goal of a full single market.
As from 21 December, sea borders will be dismantled. This will particularly affect all those travelling to Sicily, who will not be subject to any more checks as they arrive or depart. This leads to a more united, freer Europe.
This also has an effect when it comes to people visiting our country. Since a person that gains a Schengen visa may visit any country within the Schengen zone, this may result in an increase in the number of tourists visiting our country. People from third countries who have a Schengen visa will encounter less hassle to visit Malta. For example, a person from the USA visiting a Schengen zone country and therefore has a Schengen visa may be able to visit Malta without any other visas required.
In addition, thanks to various collaboration agreements, it will be possible to acquire a visa for Malta from any Austrian and Italian overseas missions in places where Malta does not have a representation. This will prove itself very helpful for people wishing to visit our country.
The Schengen Convention also looks at the darker side of border crossing. I am referring to the part associated with crime. Thanks to the Schengen Information System, an EU-wide IT data system, and coordinated with other Schengen area member states, Police, customs and the judiciary, may share information in relation on specific individuals (i.e. criminals wanted for arrest or extradition, missing persons, third-country nationals to be refused entry, etc.) and on goods which have been lost or stolen.
This means empowering our police force and law administrators in their work. If a person commits a crime in a Schengen zone country the information will be rallied to the new ‘Sirene Unit’ section that has been at Floriana Police headquarters. This will make the work much easier especially when dealing with cases of smuggling, international prostitution and human trafficking. The collaboration between European police forces through pooling of resources ensures the security of everyone in the EU.
Malta, like any EU member state is facing challenges such as serious trans-national crime, such as terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking. This makes the Schengen cooperation a natural forum for Malta to voice its particular needs as an island state.
This new achievement for our country will make the general public lives much easier when travelling and for sure more secure. The introduction of the Schengen together with the adaptation of the euro this coming January will not only integrate our country within the EU but also make our country more competitive.
This is another success since joining the EU an achievement that will continue empowering our country potential by generating further economic growth. To a certain extent, I dare say that politically thanks to Schengen we are no longer an island and Maltese people may roam freely with out any bureaucratic hassle.
David Casa is a Nationalist MEP
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www.davidcasa.eu