Border policies (2)

Charles J. Buttigieg is not quite correct to state that because he was coming from an EU state he was not crossing borders on entry into the United Kingdom. He may not have been aware that the UK is not party to the Schengen Agreement on border controls. The UK is therefore not a border country for EU immigration and border control purposes. His subsequent comments may therefore also have been misleading and perhaps unnecessary in the circumstances.

Mr Buttigieg might be further guided by the written answer to a question tabled in the House of Lords on February 8, 2006 by Lord Selsdon (Conservative) regarding from which countries an identity card suffices to permit entry into the United Kingdom without the requirement of a valid passport. In reply, Lord Bassam of Brighton (Lords in Waiting, HM Household) stated that "under community law the UK is required to admit nationals from other member states and from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland on production of an ID Card or passport. The format and content of the cards is a matter for the states concerned. They all, however, include the name of the holder of the card, his or her nationality and a photograph". (Hansard Source)