Europe Features

In photos: 'EU - Abolishment of border control in parts of EU'

By M&C News Dec 21, 2007, 11:33 GMT

The European-Line bus crosses the border barriers at the German-Polish border of Ahlbeck-Swinemuende, Germany, 21 December 2007 in commemoration of the abolishment of border control. Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/STEFAN SAUER

Local people celebrate entry into the Schengen area late 20 December 2007, at the Czech-Slovak checkpoint in Stary Hrozenkov, Czech Republic. Czech Republic and 8 other new member states of EU are joining the border control free countries of the Schengen agreement area on December 21. EPA/RADIM BEZNOSKA

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel (L) welcomes the opening of Germany's borders to its eastern neighbours Poland and the Czech Republic in Zittau, Germany, 21 December 2007. In the town of Zittau, where the three countries meet in a point border, passport controls were officially omitted as Poland and the Czech Republic entered the Schengen zone at midnight, 21 December. EPA/PEER GRIMM

From L-R Czech Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek, President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel welcome the opening of Germany's borders to its eastern neighbours Poland and the Czech Republic in Zittau, Germany, 21 December 2007. In the town of Zittau, where the three countries meet in a point border, passport controls were officially omitted as Poland and the Czech Republic entered the Schengen zone at midnight, 21 December. EPA/PEER GRIMM

Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer (L) cuts a wooden toll gate with his Slovak counterpart Robert Kalinak (R) during a calebration of the entry into the Schengen area on December 20, 2007, at the Czech-Slovak checkpoint in in Stary Hrozenkov, Czech Republic. Czech Republic and 8 other new member states of EU are joining the border control free countries of the Schengen agreement area on December 21. EPA/RADIM BEZNOSKA

Austrian Interior Minister Gunther Platter (3-L) delivers a speech while his Czech counterpart Ivan Langer (4-L) looks on during a celebration of the entry into the Schengen area on 20 December 2007, at the Czech-Austrian checkpoint in Mikulov, Czech Republic.Czech Republic and 8 other new member states of EU are joining the border control free countries of the Schengen agreement area on December 21. EPA/RADIM BEZNOSKA

The mayor of Kobarid Robert Kaucic and Piergiorgio Domenis, and major of Pulvero attend the cutting of the border barrier at the border crossing of Robic, near Kobarid, Slovenia, at midnight on 21 December 2007. On far left Minister of foreign affairs of Slovenia Dimitrij Rupel, and on far right Ricardo Illy president of Friuli Venezia Giulia. EPA/STR

With symbolical lowering of the Slovenian flag at the border crossing in Gorica, 20 December 2007 the Schengen border was moved on the southern border of Slovenia. Gorica, one of the last devided cities, became one again. EPA/STR

Governor of Swinemeunde Janusz Zmurkiewicz (C), raises the border barriers as Polish politicians look on at the German-Polish border of Ahlbeck-Swinemuende, Germany, 21 December 2007 in commemoration of the abolishment of border control. Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/STEFAN SAUER

Two young Hungarian women celebrate the vanishing of the border at the border station of Hegyeshalom, some 170 kms west of Budapest, at Hungarian-Austrian border moments after midnight, 21 December 2007, when the station was closed down as Hungary and eight other EU countries entered the Schengen zone. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area is enlarged now by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/TAMAS KOVACS

A Hungarian police officer with celebrating people poses for a souvenir photo in a passport control booth of the border station of Hegyeshalom, some 170 kms west of Budapest, at Hungarian-Austrian border after midnight, 21 December 2007, when the station was closed down as Hungary and eight other EU countries entered the Schengen zone. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area is enlarged now by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/TAMAS KOVACS

Fireworks lit the night sky in celeberation of the abolishment of border control in Slubice, Poland, 21 December 2007. Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/PATRICK PLEUL

Hundreds of people celeberate at the German-Polish border of Frankfurt Oder, Germany, 21 December 2007 shortly after custom controls are abolished. Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/PATRICK PLEUL

Polish students celeberate with the EU flag at the German-Polish border of Frankfurt Oder, Germany, 21 December 2007 shortly after custom controls are abolished. Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/PATRICK PLEUL

A German (L) and a Polish (R) policeman conduct a joint control of a vehicle at the German-Polish border of Frankfurt Oder, Germany, 20 December 2007 shortly before custom controls are abolished. Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/PATRICK PLEUL

A Polish borderpolice watches the traffic after custom controls are abolished at the German-Polish boarder near the city of Goerlitz in Ludwigsdorf, Germany, 21 December 2007. Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/PEER GRIMM

A German policewoman (L) and a Polish policeman (R) shakes hands after custom controls are abolished at the German-Polish boarder near the city of Goerlitz in Ludwigsdorf, Germany, 21 December 2007. Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/PEER GRIMM

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany (2-R) with Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Goencz (R), Hungarian Justice and Law Inforcement Minister Albert Takacs (2-L) and head of the Public Security Director General of the Austrian Interior Ministry Erik Buxbaum (L) hold a dismantled barrier at the border station of Hegyeshalom, some 170 kms west of Budapest, at Hungarian-Austrian border, moments after midnight, 21 December 2007, when the station was closed down as Hungary and eight other EU countries entered the Schengen zone. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area is enlarged now by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/LASZLO BELICZAY

Polish people saw through the border crossing barrier on the Polish- Germany border in Swinoujscie, north- west of Warsaw, 20 December 2007, shortly before the station is closed down as Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/JERZY UNDRO

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany (C) with Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Goencz (2-R), Hungarian Justice and Law Inforcement Minister Albert Takacs (2-L), Public Security Director General of the Austrian Interior Ministry Erik Buxbaum (L) and Lieutenant-general Jozsef Bendek (R), national commander of the Hungarian border guards listen to the Hungarian national anthem at the border station of Hegyeshalom, some 170 kms west of Budapest, at Hungarian-Austrian border, moments after midnight, 21 December 2007, when the station was closed down as Hungary and eight other EU countries entered the Schengen zone. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area is enlarged now by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/LASZLO BELICZAY

Slovakian and Polish people saw through the border crossing barrier on the Polish- Slovakian border in Lysa Polana , south of Warsaw, 20 December 2007, shortly before the station is closed down as Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/GRZEGORZ MOMOT

Polish and German people celebrate on the Polish-German border in Kostrzyn/Odra river, west of Warsaw, 20 December 2007, shortly before the station is closed down as Poland and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/LECH MUSZYNSKI

Lieutenant-general Jozsef Bendek (R), national commander of the Hungarian border guards holds a dismantled barrier as two unidentified men look on at the border station of Hegyeshalom, some 170 kms west of Budapest, at the Hungarian-Austrian border 20 December 2007, shortly before the station is closed down as Hungary and eight other EU countries enter the Schengen zone at midnight. The borderless, passport-free Schengen area will be enlarged by nine of the ten states that joined EU in 2004. EPA/LASZLO BELICZAY

A barrier with 'STOP' sign at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Dorohusk, eastern Poland, on 20 December 2007. On December 21 nine EU members, including Poland, will join the Schengen zone, so that the Polish border with Ukraine will become the outside border of the Schengen zone. EPA/Miroslaw Trembecki