Application of the Schengen Agreement at Frankfurt airport

10.12.2002

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3754/02
by Jan Andersson (PSE)
to the Commission

A Swedish citizen who flew into Frankfurt airport (in November 2002) from a non-European country has stated that, on arrival, German police singled out all those travelling on German passports and ushered them into a separate queue to pass through passport control. German passport-holders were therefore able to get through passport control considerably faster than anyone else holding a passport issued by another Schengen country, as the latter were instructed to join the normal queue, conventionally divided into queues for EU citizens and non-EU citizens, which were, of course, much longer.

 

This procedure, as described, raises questions as to how the principles of the Schengen Convention are applied at Frankfurt airport. Since the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Council is responsible for ensuring that checks on individuals at the external borders of the Schengen area are carried out in a uniform manner. However, the description of the procedure at Frankfurt airport indicates that this is not the case and that it constitutes a breach of the principles laid down in the Schengen agreement.

 

Does the 'common manual for the external frontiers' allow the type of distinction between different Schengen citizens as described above?

 

If not, what measures can the Commission take to deal with this discrimination?

 

In the light of this situation, should the revision of the manual, which is reportedly in progress, be stepped up?

OJ C 280 E, 21/11/2003