EU border control force in Norway?
Wednesday's announcement from the EU Commission that it wants a multinational police force to guard the external borders of the EU has caused concern in Norway. The long Norwegian coastline and the border to Russia are part of the EU external border because Norway is a Schengen member, although it is not in the EU, according to Norwegian paper Klassekampen.
Norway is committed to the common rules for border surveillance and against illegal immigration, and has joined the common Schengen police data network, SIS. It is preparing for a still closer co-operation with the EU countries on the Europol police force and a common EU arrest warrant. And according to Norwegian paper Nationen, a Norwegian refusal to take part in the external border force will mean that the country will have to retire from the whole Schengen Agreement.
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According to Kim Traavik, secretary of state in Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the proposal will have to go through a long process in the EU member states before Norway will need to make up its mind. Norway has the right to speak in the Schengen co-operation, but not the right to vote.
It will be difficult for Norway to say no to the border police force, if it is considered to be relevant for the Schengen Agreement, according to Sigbjørn Gjelsvik, leader of Norway's No to EU, quoted by Nationen. The Schengen Agreement requires participation on everything or nothing.
An important reason for Norway's decision to join the Schengen Agreement was the wish to continue passport free travel in the Nordic countries after Denmark and Sweden joined the EU.