Page 9 - Aruba Today
P. 9
WORLD NEWS 9
Monday 4 January 2016
After 1 million migrants, Europe’s borders are back
KARL RITTER temporary, but are likely
Associated Press Swedish police officers perform identity control checks among the passengers aboard the train to be extended if Europe’s
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Since from Copenhagen at the Swedish end of the bridge between Sweden and Denmark in Malmo, migrant crisis continues in
it opened in 2000, the Sweden. On Monday Jan. 4, 2016, new travel restrictions are set to be imposed by Sweden to stem 2016.
Oresund bridge between a record flow of migrants, transforming the Oresund bridge between Sweden and Denmark into a “It’s basically every coun-
Sweden and Denmark has striking example of how national boundaries are re-emerging. try for itself now,” said Mark
been a towering symbol of Rhinard, an expert on the
European integration and (Stig Ake Jonsson/TT via AP) European Union at the
hassle-free travel across Swedish Institute of Interna-
borders that people didn’t from reaching Sweden, mainly from Syria, Iraq and gium and other countries tional Affairs.
even notice were there. which abruptly reversed its Afghanistan. in what’s supposed to be Citing exceptional national
On Monday new travel re- open-door policy after re- It follows the reintroduction a passport-free travel zone circumstances related to
strictions imposed by Swe- ceiving more than 160,000 of border checks in Ger- spanning 26 nations. security, terrorism and pub-
den to stem a record flow asylum-seekers last year, many, Austria, France, Bel- The moves are supposedly lic order, several European
of migrants are transform- countries have suspended
ing the bridge into a striking EU rules that required them
example of how national to keep their borders open
boundaries are re-emerg- to each other.
ing. A year of clampdowns It’s a significant develop-
on migration and terrorism ment that strikes at the
has all but killed the idea of very heart of the EU project
a borderless Europe where — the free movement of
you could drive or train- goods and people across
hop from Spain in the south borders.
to Norway in the north with- The Bruegel think tank in
out ever having to show Brussels says that in 2014
your passport. there were almost 1.7 mil-
“We’re turning back the lion cross-border commut-
clock,” said Andreas On- ers in the passport-free
nerfors, who lives in Lund, zone known as the Schen-
on the Swedish side of the gen Area, after the Luxem-
bridge. An associate pro- bourg town where it was
fessor in intellectual history, created in 1985.
he said he’s benefited from
the free flow of people and Continued on page 27
ideas across the bridge —
he’s studied on both sides Catalonia secession push halted as party opposes Mas
and taught students from
both Sweden and Den- MADRID (AP) — A small, far- “Together for Yes” alliance support Mas as leader of a Saladie said it was possible
mark. left party on Sunday voted that won 62 seats in the separatist coalition. CUP might reconsider its
“We’re going back to against backing Artur Mas 135-seat regional parlia- Although CUP members position if someone other
a time when the bridge as leader of Catalonia’s re- ment last September and have said they favor the than Mas was nominated
didn’t exist,” he said, refer- gional parliament, tempo- needed the support of establishment of a Cata- as regional government
ring to the ID checkpoints rarily halting a push toward Popular Unity Candidacy’s lan republic separate from leader.
being set up Monday on independence from Spain 10 seats to secure a work- Spain, they have on re- However, the Together
the Danish side for train by the powerful northeast- able majority. peated occasions said Mas for Yes alliance has main-
passengers wishing to cross ern region and almost cer- After three months of de- was unacceptable to them tained Mas’ leadership
over to Sweden. tainly triggering a new lo- bates, CUP members final- as a coalition leader. role was a non-negotiable
The move is meant to stop cal election. ly decided at a meeting Speaking after the meet- issue.q
undocumented migrants Mas heads the separatist Sunday afternoon not to ing, party spokesman Sergi
