New 'Schengen' countries to guard the EU fortress. Once again a number of internal borders are being scrapped in the European Union. As per 21 December 2007 there will no longer be any border controls between the 'old EU' and nine recently acceded member states.
he countries on the outside edge of this 'borderless' Europe are responsible for keeping the outer borders sealed. This causes the Slovenians a lot of moral discomfort, because they would rather not oblige people from neighbouring Balkan countries to request a visum.
His bronze effigy beside his birthplace, a home in the Croat border village of Kumrovec, draws the attention of passers-by: this is where Josip Broz Tito lived. Steering his own course, independent from Moscow's, 'Marshall' Tito managed to create an artificially unified Republic of Yugoslavia, from the immediate post-WWII years up to his death in 1980. Ten years later the country disintegrated as a result of civil war.
Border in the backyard
In 1991 a new border was drawn between Croatia and Slovenia, through the backyard of the village where he was born. Had Tito still been alive, he would never have let that happen, says villager Iwan Broz (no relation). "For a start because his mother was Slovenian."
The mixed marriage of Tito's parents was no exception in this region. There is no fear that stricter measures along the new outer wall of Fortress Europe will cut local family ties. "No problem at all," Iwan Broz says about the new formalities at the border crossing. Croats need no more than a single special document which has to be stamped at the border. All Croats are entitled to enter Slovenia without showing a passport.
Sharper Controls
On 21 December 2007 Slovenia and eight other countries join the so-called Schengen area, within which Europeans can travel without a passport. The countries on the outer edge of the Union are responsible for the intensified border controls. Because once people from outside the EU are inside, they can travel on to whatever EU country they want.
The 670 kilometre border between Slovenia and Croatia meanders through rivers, forests and mountains. It is not so hard to cross it illegally, Iwan Broz thinks. "There are police patrols, but with a little luck…"
But contradicting this, Slovenian Schengen co-ordinator Marco Gasperlin says that the 'green border' is closely guarded. Using night-time vision, infrared cameras, helicopters and patrol cars, Slovenian police managed to arrest over 2000 people over the past year. "Nearly all of them were from the Western Balkans. We hardly capture any illegal immigrants from Africa or Asia."
Borderline case
"This is where Croatia begins." Waitress Boyana draws an imaginary line through the packed dining room of the Kalin Restaurant, in the Slovenian border village of Obrezje. Border post no. 497 proves that she is right.
Playfully exploiting this circumstance, the restaurant owner had hoped to escape the smoking ban that is in force in Slovenian hotels, restaurants and cafés. But because the restaurant as a whole is officially Slovenian, the ban also applies to these few square metres of Croatia indoors. "EU membership holds no advantage for us at all," Boyana sighs.
According to her, the whole of former Yugoslavia views the Kalin Restaurant as an institution in the field of roast game. But since Slovenia joined the EU, visitor numbers have fallen. "Many of our guests are from Croatia, and it is difficult for them to cross the border because there is a long cue. Many of them turn back."
Maybe these inconveniences will end when Croatia also joins the Schengen area. But the sheer length of Croatia's outer border, and the presence of Croation, Serbian, and Bosnian minorities on both sides of the border will delay Croatia's accession for quite a while, Schengen co-ordinator Marco Gasperlin thinks. "Ten years at least." - By Thijs Papot Radio Netherlands
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