The EU council of ministers yesterday officially approved Malta’s entry to the Schengen zone, sanctioning the right of all Maltese nationals to move about freely in the European Schengen countries without having to pass through border control.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Tonio Borg who attended the council in Brussels, while expressing satisfaction at Malta’s formal entry into the Schengen zone, explained that the Maltese government had to upgrade and equip sea and airport facilities for Malta to be formally accepted. Dr Borg also emphasised that the freedom of movement of persons was a key pillar of the European Union and consequently, the Maltese government wanted to ensure that this benefit would be enjoyed by all Maltese citizens.

After legally entering a Schengen country, even non-EU citizens could travel to any Schengen country, provided their identities have been properly established.

The main measures of the Schengen agreement include:

• the abolition of checks at common borders, replacing them with external border checks;

• a common definition of the conditions for crossing external borders and uniform rules and procedures for checks there;

• separation in air terminals and ports of people travelling within the Schengen area from those arriving from countries outside the area;

• harmonisation of the conditions of entry and visas for short stays;

• coordination between administrations on surveillance of borders (liaison officers and harmonisation of instructions and staff training);

• the strengthening of judicial cooperation through a faster extradition system, and faster distribution of information about the enforcement of criminal judgments;

• the creation of the Schengen Information System (SIS).

Apart from Malta, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will open their borders to citizens of the former 15 Schengen countries.