Passport control (1)

The ordeal which Anna Mallia went through with the immigration authorities in Italy (Lawyer Complains Of Discrimination, May 19) is by no means a remote incident as other Maltese nationals, including me, are experiencing similar discomforts when visiting Italy and other EU states.

Arriving at Heathrow airport recently I too decided to challenge the system by refusing to present my passport, stating that I am an EU citizen. The immigration officer, on her best British manners, did not argue the point but politely insisted to see my passport as proof of my nationality. I insisted that their demand was a futile one at best and despotic at worst as even if I were not an EU national I was coming from an EU state and therefore not crossing borders.

However, appreciative of the fact that, due to infrastructural difficulties international and EU passengers are not segregated like they should be at EU airports but use the same arrivaldeparture zones, which necessitates the identification of passengers, I presented my ID card and the copy of my air ticket. This should have sufficed but both were refused by immigration and afterwards I refused to answer their impertinent questions.

To make certain that I drove the point home I asked to see higher authorities but to no avail. When I insisted that I was prepared to go the whole hog, including reporting the case to the European Commission, I received a welcoming smile and was allowed to go forward without further hindrance on the strength of my suggested documents.

Other Maltese passengers ahead of me in the queue sheepishly presented their passports and subjected themselves to answering all the impertinent questions while I watched and waited, fuming.

Other EU states are also blatantly circumventing the immigration procedures at ports and airports and expect us to be grateful. That was, in essence, what the Italian Ambassador declared when he was recently asked for his comments on Dr Mallia's incident in Italy.

The Ambassador was also reported as stating that control at the borders should be enhanced. What borders? There are no political borders between EU member states and should not be. Or are there? I was under the impression that all passengers, irrespective of their nationality, en route to countries in the EU, only clear their passport at the first port of call in an EU state, after which they enjoy total freedom of movement to visit any other EU state without having to go through customs and immigration control again. This is like going to Manchester via London or Milan via Rome. Does that system present any security risk?

Perhaps Joanna Drake, the European Commission's Permanent Representative in Malta, may correct or confirm my perception on border policies and EU citizenship.