The European Commission is to step up its monitoring of new border controls in Denmark after an expert mission failed to get satisfactory explanations from the Danish authorities on their scope and purpose.

“’Unfortunately, the mission did not enable us to get adequate answers to our questions,” said Cecilia Malmström, the European commissioner for home affairs. “There are persistent concerns about the compatibility of Denmark’s strengthened internal control measures with the freedoms provided under the EU Treaty including the Schengen acquis.”

Several member states are worried that Denmark’s unilateral move to step up border checks violate the rules of the EU’s Schengen area of borderless travel.

Cross-border crime

Denmark announced the new checks in May, saying that they would help crack down on cross-border crime.

An expert team from the Commission visited Denmark last week (14-15 July). In a preliminary mission report, the team said that they had been unable to get sufficient justifications for the new border regime.

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Malmström said today (18 July) that she would put in place a “strict monitoring system” to ensure that Denmark does not breach EU law.

“It is incumbent on Denmark to demonstrate factually that the gravity of the situation justifies putting in place controls which might affect the exercise of free movement of goods, services and persons at the internal borders with Germany and Sweden,” she said.