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Fanfare for bigger border-free EU Europe's border-free zone expands
(about 3 hours later)
Nine new countries have joined the Schengen agreement, creating a 24-nation border-free zone. Celebrations have been held after midnight to mark nine new states joining a European border-free zone.
A checkpoint between Austria and Slovakia was dismantled in one of several events marking the enlargement. The Schengen agreement, which allows passport-free travel across the area, now embraces 24 nations.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer sawed through a barrier at the Berg border crossing. Some 2,000 people celebrated with the EU anthem, Beethoven's Ode to Joy, and fireworks in the town of Frankfurt on Oder at Germany's border with Poland.
Ceremonies also took place in Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Baltic states. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia joined the zone.
See map of Schengen area See map of Schengen area
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic are becoming part of the Schengen area. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Polish PM Donald Tusk will mark the event on Friday morning in the town of Zittau, near the point where Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic meet.
Crime wave fears
They will be joined by Czech PM Mirek Topolanek and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
On Thursday a checkpoint between Austria and Slovakia was dismantled in one of several events marking the enlargement from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic.
From midnight tonight you can travel 4,000km from Tallinn in Estonia to Lisbon in Portugal without any border controls Robert Fico, Slovak Prime Minister New border security fearsIn pictures: Border-free EU
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer sawed through a barrier at the Berg border crossing.
Other ceremonies took place in Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Baltic states.
Initially the lifting of internal controls involves just land and sea borders, but that will be extended to airports at the end of March 2008.Initially the lifting of internal controls involves just land and sea borders, but that will be extended to airports at the end of March 2008.
From midnight tonight you can travel 4,000km from Tallinn in Estonia to Lisbon in Portugal without any border controls Robert Fico, Slovak Prime Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7154196.stm">New border security fears class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7154324.stm">In pictures: Border-free EU Mr Gusenbauer welcomed the extension of the Schengen zone, rejecting fears that it might create a crime wave in Austria. Mr Gusenbauer welcomed the extension of the Schengen zone, rejecting fears that it might create a crime wave in Austria.
He said it would expand the "zone of safety and stability in Europe" which would be of direct benefit to Austria. The European Commission says that one billion euros (£720m) has been spent on beefing up security on the new EU frontiers, including the establishing of missions along the Polish and Slovak borders.
Not only would Austria be safer, he said, but it would also "lie much more in the heart of Europe than it has in the past".
The European Commission says that one billion euros (£720m) has been spent on beefing up security on the new EU frontiers, which include missions along the Polish and Slovak borders.
Mr Fico said: "From midnight tonight you can travel 4,000km (2,485 miles) from Tallinn in Estonia to Lisbon in Portugal without any border controls."Mr Fico said: "From midnight tonight you can travel 4,000km (2,485 miles) from Tallinn in Estonia to Lisbon in Portugal without any border controls."
Passport-free Although the enlargement allows passport-free travel throughout the area, travellers can be asked to carry documents by any of the countries concerned.
The enlargement will allow passport-free travel throughout the area, although travellers can be asked to carry documents by any of the countries concerned. Vast database
For non-EU nationals, a Schengen visa allows travel across all the participating countries.For non-EU nationals, a Schengen visa allows travel across all the participating countries.
Thirteen existing EU states have already been part of the Schengen accord as well as two non-EU countries, Norway and Iceland.Thirteen existing EU states have already been part of the Schengen accord as well as two non-EU countries, Norway and Iceland.
The UK and Ireland are not involved in the passport-free zone but they have signed up to agreements on security. The UK and Ireland are not involved in the zone - which embraces 400m people - but they have signed up to agreements on security.
A significant element of the Schengen agreement is the Schengen Information Service (SIS) which features an enormous database in the French city of Strasbourg.A significant element of the Schengen agreement is the Schengen Information Service (SIS) which features an enormous database in the French city of Strasbourg.
The SIS database enables police in any Schengen state to find out whether a suspect has been involved in any kind of crime across the EU.The SIS database enables police in any Schengen state to find out whether a suspect has been involved in any kind of crime across the EU.
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