Quote:
Originally Posted by Olafhenny
Thank you Serweryn, excellent post.
Only one correction though. You can travel freely throughout most of continental Europe, even to
non-member Switzerland, but not to Britain. Their insular attitude prevented them from joining the Schengen
Agreement, which is the agreement which opened Europe up to borderless travel.
It would be painful in many respects, if the UK left the EU, but it would allow Europe to move closer to political
unity and thereby hopefully remove some of the levels of the present administrative complex. And political
unity and the elimination of conflicts was always and still is the ultimate aim of the protagonists of Europe.
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You are completely incorrect. There is full and free movement of people across the EU, including the U.K. The Schengen agreement has been superceeeded and enschrined in EU law Directive 2004/38/EC on the right to move and reside freely. Hence why our Polish friends can come here, work and reside freely.
However, the directive recognises our unique status as an island nation, we excercise our right to check documents on entry. One of the reasons for retaining controls is that without them once a non-EU citizen has breached Europe's borders there is no stopping them without passport checks. A quick Google search will show the transit camps near the French coast full of Afghans, Iraqi's, Somali's and others intent on headed for our shores.