[goldstategop]

Europe has come a long way since the last World Wars and the Iron Curtain. The Schengen Zone expanded to include new East and Central European countries as members. More Europeans will able to move between nations in the Zone without being required to carry a passport. Whether that expansion is another step closer to the emergence of a "United States Of Europe" is open to later debate.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

This is also terrific news if you're an American businessperson or tourist. No more need to laboriously apply for a separate visa to every country you want to do business in or travel for sightseeing. One Schengen visa will be valid in any of the 24 European countries under the system.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[garyhope]

Terrorists and criminals free to roam and make mischief.

[avid]

The new bordercountries aren’t yet attached to the central database. This is said to happen sometime in the second half of 2008. Their border guards got the latest state of the art equipment though (funded by the EU).

I don’t have a good feeling about all this. Probably a border guard in eastern Poland or so doesn’t earn enough not to be corruptible.

[hinckley buzzard]

The EU's Schengen border on the east will be about as porous as our southern border with Mexico, and just as attractive to hordes of semi-literate vagrants from the vastness of the eurasian interior. Expect within a year to be reading about the new "illegal immigrant" problems of the regions on the eastern frontier.