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SCHENGEN

EU hasn’t moved on Schengen changes: PM

European leaders have yet to decide whether to restore border controls within the Schengen zone, Spain's prime minister said Monday, after Madrid made a push for the visa-free treaty to be modified in the wake of France's terror attacks.

Published: 12 January 2015 16:28 CET
EU hasn't moved on Schengen changes: PM
Madrid wants the 1995 Schengen treaty modified to check the movements of Islamist militants returning to Europe after fighting in the Middle East. File photo: AFP

"No decision has been taken regarding the question of whether or not to change the Schengen treaty," Mariano Rajoy said during an interview with Cadena Ser radio.

"If the question is posed it will be debated but I think that everything that helps the fight against terrorism must be done, as long as it does not harm other things. I think that everything is perfectly compatible," he added.

Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz said in an interview published on Sunday that Madrid wants the 1995 treaty modified to check the movements of Islamist militants returning to Europe after fighting in the Middle East.

"Those people over whom there is a well founded suspicion or risk that they may be terrorists or who are susceptible of being terrorists, should not use this freedom of movement to the detriment of our freedom and security," the minister told daily newspaper El País.

His comments were made just before EU and US security ministers met at France's interior ministry on Sunday to work out a joint response to the threat of jihadist attacks following days of carnage in Paris by three gunmen claiming to act on behalf of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

The Schengen agreement has been signed by 26 countries, 22 of them EU members. It imposes border controls on individuals entering and leaving the zone, but none on travels within the bloc. The treaty cannot be changed unilaterally.

The agreement nevertheless already allows member countries to temporarily reinstate border controls if deemed necessary for security reasons, such as big sporting events like the Olympic Games or to address temporary threats.

Spain is also pushing for the swift adoption of European legislation requiring airlines to provide data of passengers entering or leaving the EU.

Adoption of the Passenger Name Record Directive was suspended by the European Parliament late last year because of concerns about data protection.

The wanted partner of one of the gunmen behind the terror attacks in France, Hayat Boumeddiene, crossed into Syria last week after arriving in Turkey on a flight from Madrid, Turkish authorities said on Monday.

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TRAVEL

IN DETAIL: What are the rules on travel into Denmark from within the EU?

While there are still restrictions on travel into Denmark from many non-EU countries, including the UK, travel from within the European Bloc is more relaxed. But there are still rules in place.

Published: 9 June 2021 14:37 CEST
IN DETAIL: What are the rules on travel into Denmark from within the EU?
Package tourists leaving Copenhagen on their way to Mallorca. Photo: Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix

What’s the most recent change in the regulatory framework? 

Denmark on May 14th relaxed the rules for travel from all EU countries so that travellers from these countries no longer need “a worthy purpose” to travel to Denmark unless their country has a high-enough infection rate to be classed as “red” in Denmark’s traffic light system.

This has opened the way for tourism from the EU, and also from the entire Schengen zone, which also includes Switzerland, Andorra, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino and Vatican City.

Under the May 14th update, travellers coming from European Union or Schengen countries or regions classed as “yellow” no longer have to show a negative coronavirus test before boarding the plane, and no longer need to go into self-isolation on arrival in Denmark. 

Those who aren’t Danish citizens or residents, however are required to show a recent negative test, taken no more than 48 hours before boarding their plane, before entering Denmark. 

At Copenhagen Airport, there’s a centre before passport control where you can get a rapid test, so if you are willing to risk a return flight, you can wait until arrival before getting tested. In practice, it is probably safer to get a test before you go. 

Travellers coming from European Union or Schengen countries or regions classed as “orange” do, however, need to get a test before boarding the aircraft, and also need to go into self-isolation for at least four days, until they test negative for coronavirus, or for ten days without a test.

Here is the latest table from the Danish authority’s Coronasmitte website on the travel guidelines for EU and Schengen countries. 

Which EU or Schengen countries or regions are classed as “yellow” by Denmark? 

Denmark on Saturday June 5th moved Italy, Germany, Austria and Slovakia from the “orange” classification to “yellow”, meaning Danish citizens are no longer advised against leisure travel to these countries, and also that tourists from these countries no longer need to get tested before boarding their flight, or go into isolation on arrival in Denmark. 

These countries are currently classed as “yellow” in Denmark. 

Austria Czech Republic Slovakia Finland
Bulgaria  Germany  Hungary  Iceland 
Italy  Malta  Poland  Portugal 
Romania       

Denmark also on June 5th added six new European regions to its list of countries classified as “yellow”, the Peloponnese in Greece, Jadranska Hrvatska in Croatia, Zug and Ticino in Switzerland, and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

Here are the European regions currently classified as “yellow”: 

Croatia:  Jadranska Hrvatska
France: Corse, Martinique, Mayotte

Greece: Peloponnisos

Norway: Rogaland, Møre og Romsdal, Norland, Viken, Vestland

Spain: Galicia, Principado de Asturias, Cantabria, Extremadura, Comunitat Valenciana, Illes Balears, Región de Murcia, Canarias

Switzerland: Zug,Ticino

Which regions in the EU or Schengen are currently classified as “red”? 

None. 

How are the rules different for travellers from the EU/Schengen who are fully vaccinated or immune? 

Travellers from the EU and Schengen regions who are fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency, or who can document that they have been infected with Covid-19 and recovered in the last 14 to 180 days can forgo most of the restrictions that remain (unless their country is rated “red”). 

Even if their country is rated as “orange”, they still do not need to show a recent negative coronavirus test before boarding their aircraft, get tested on arrival, isolate on arrival, or take a test prior to entering Denmark. 

Here is the latest table from the Danish authority’s Coronasmitte website giving the travel guidelines for vaccinated or immune travellers from EU and Schengen countries. 

What are the requirements if you are travelling by land or sea? 

Travellers coming to Denmark by road, train or ferry need to be able to show a negative test result not more than 48 hours old before entering the country. Unlike with flights, however, even if the country of departure is ranked “orange” (as Norway or Sweden are) they do not need to show a negative test before boarding the ship, train or bus. 

What are the rules on travel for residents of border regions? 

Foreigners with permanent residence in regions bordering Denmark, such Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, and Blekinge, Skåne, Halland and Västra Götaland in Sweden do not need a “worthy purpose” to travel into Denmark, even if their country is classified as “red”. They can only show a negative test that is up to 72 hours old, rather than 48 hours for other travellers. 

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