Wasn't the EU supposed to prevent this?
Ah, the European Union. That dynamo of international governance renowned for tearing down the artificial barriers that separate nations in an effort to promote transnational cooperation and European peace.
So, naturally, the EU is doing just the opposite of that with two of its newest members, mandating that a proper, physical border be erected between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Bringing the nations of Europe closer together? Say what?
To understand the absurdity of this measure, consider that never -- never -- has there been a proper border between these two regions. Obviously not during the 70-odd years they were both part of Czechoslovakia, and not in the 11-plus years since the "Velvet Divorce" that created the two countries. But not even prior to the creation of 1918. In the centuries that it's been possible to speak of meaningful polities of a modern scale, these two regions have been part of the same empire, state or political amalgamation for its entirety, excepting the time from January 1, 1993 (the date of the split), to May 1, 2004 (when both acceded to the EU). And even then, Czechs and Slovaks could cross the border freely.
And for good reason. Under the terms of the "divorce settlement," the two peoples were promised an open barrier. It had always been that way and there wasn't a compelling reason for it to change. Czechs and Slovaks are closely related in terms of ethnicity, language and history. The differences between the two lands are modest (though at least perceived as real enough to merit discrete political entities).
But such an arrangement, giving Czechs and Slovaks free access to each other's countries, is "discriminatory," the EU says. Why? Because the citizens of other EU countries don't enjoy such a privilege. So they have until 2007 to rectify this "discrimination." Of course, citizens of nations that have signed the Schengen Agreement -- such as France, Germany, etc. -- enjoy free movement between members of the Schengen Group. The Czechs and Slovaks, not allowed membership in the Schengen Group immediately upon entry into the EU, don't enjoy such privileges. But hey, that's not discriminatory.
And, bear in mind, in a few years when the Czech Republic and Slovakia do become part of the Schengen Group, then that new border between the countries will become superfluous.
To recap: The EU says Czechs and Slovaks need to build a barrier between them that has no antecedents and abrogates the agreement on movement put in force by the split between the two countries. This because the EU finds this free movement "discriminatory" toward the non-Czech and -Slovak citizens in the EU, many of whom already enjoy free movement within other EU countries that is currently denied to Czechs and Slovaks. And all this so the border can be dismantled in a few years when the Czechs and Slovaks can finally enjoy those rights.
Three (Bronx) cheers for bureaucracy!
So, naturally, the EU is doing just the opposite of that with two of its newest members, mandating that a proper, physical border be erected between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Bringing the nations of Europe closer together? Say what?
To understand the absurdity of this measure, consider that never -- never -- has there been a proper border between these two regions. Obviously not during the 70-odd years they were both part of Czechoslovakia, and not in the 11-plus years since the "Velvet Divorce" that created the two countries. But not even prior to the creation of 1918. In the centuries that it's been possible to speak of meaningful polities of a modern scale, these two regions have been part of the same empire, state or political amalgamation for its entirety, excepting the time from January 1, 1993 (the date of the split), to May 1, 2004 (when both acceded to the EU). And even then, Czechs and Slovaks could cross the border freely.
And for good reason. Under the terms of the "divorce settlement," the two peoples were promised an open barrier. It had always been that way and there wasn't a compelling reason for it to change. Czechs and Slovaks are closely related in terms of ethnicity, language and history. The differences between the two lands are modest (though at least perceived as real enough to merit discrete political entities).
But such an arrangement, giving Czechs and Slovaks free access to each other's countries, is "discriminatory," the EU says. Why? Because the citizens of other EU countries don't enjoy such a privilege. So they have until 2007 to rectify this "discrimination." Of course, citizens of nations that have signed the Schengen Agreement -- such as France, Germany, etc. -- enjoy free movement between members of the Schengen Group. The Czechs and Slovaks, not allowed membership in the Schengen Group immediately upon entry into the EU, don't enjoy such privileges. But hey, that's not discriminatory.
And, bear in mind, in a few years when the Czech Republic and Slovakia do become part of the Schengen Group, then that new border between the countries will become superfluous.
To recap: The EU says Czechs and Slovaks need to build a barrier between them that has no antecedents and abrogates the agreement on movement put in force by the split between the two countries. This because the EU finds this free movement "discriminatory" toward the non-Czech and -Slovak citizens in the EU, many of whom already enjoy free movement within other EU countries that is currently denied to Czechs and Slovaks. And all this so the border can be dismantled in a few years when the Czechs and Slovaks can finally enjoy those rights.
Three (Bronx) cheers for bureaucracy!
posted by Alexander Dubcek | 18:28
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