Latest news with #Schengen
Local Germany
16 hours ago
- Business
- Local Germany
Majority of Germans would support the UK re-joining the EU
A new YouGov poll indicates that most citizens in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain would welcome the United Kingdom back into the European Union (EU). Among the four largest EU nations, Germany stands out as showing the highest levels of support for welcoming the UK back into the EU. According to the YouGov , 63 percent of Germans are in favour of the UK being allowed to re-join. The margin varies from country to country, but citizens in each of the Western European nations could ultimately support a 'Breturn'. Italy was the least enthusiastic at 51 percent of citizens approving, while Spain and France fall in the middle at 60 percent and 53 percent, respectively. Polling in Denmark and Sweden found even greater levels of support for the UK re-joining, at 71 percent and 70 percent respectively. READ ALSO: EU and UK reach deal to reset fraught post-Brexit relations The data indicates a broadly favourable climate across Western Europe for the proposition - a marked improvement on previous polls. On the fifth anniversary of the Brexit referendum in June 2021, support for the UK re-joining stood at 40 percent in Germany, 36 percent in France, and 43 and 46 percent in Italy and Spain, according to a poll for Euronews . The terms of return Support in Germany and across the EU is not unconditional, however. When respondents were asked if the UK should be allowed to return on the same terms it enjoyed before – such as keeping the British pound and remaining outside the Schengen passport-free zone – support for the idea plummeted. Advertisement In Germany, only 22 percent favoured the UK re-joining with its previous opt-outs intact. The pattern is similar elsewhere, with the number in favour falling to 19 percent in France and Italy, and 21 percent in Spain. A clear majority in each country (ranging from 58 percent to 62 percent) insist the UK must participate fully in all major EU policy areas if it wishes to re-join. How does this compare with attitudes in the UK? On the UK side, according to the YouGov survey, 55 percent of Britons now support re-joining the EU. In a mirror image of the response in Europe, however, support for the idea drops sharply to just 36 percent when respondents are told this will mean giving up previous opt-outs, such as keeping the pound and remaining outside the Schengen area. READ ALSO: More than 120,000 Brits naturalised in European countries since Brexit vote This creates what YouGov describes as a 'public opinion impasse': both sides want a deal, but only on terms the other is unlikely to accept. The authors of the YouGov report also note that, despite the shift in sentiment, there is 'precious little likelihood' of the UK attempting to re-join, especially as the Labour government is currently focused on resetting relations rather than on exploring the possibility of full reintegration.
Local Italy
2 days ago
- Politics
- Local Italy
EES update: Phased launch of Europe's new border system approved by MEPs
EES passport checks The European Parliament gave final approval on Tuesday to a phased rollout of a new border check system for non-EU nationals which will do away with passport stamps. The so-called Entry/Exit System (EES), was supposed to kick in last November but was delayed at the last minute as several states were not ready. First agreed on in 2017, the automated system will record visitors' date of entry and exit and keep track of overstays and refused entries. Visitors to the bloc's Schengen free movement area will also have biometric data -- facial images and fingerprints -- collected at ports of entry. "The aim is to improve security, speed up the border check process, and reduce queues," the European Parliament said. But some have raised fears that a rushed implementation could lead to longer waiting times for people travelling to Europe on trains, ferries and planes. London's mayor Sadiq Khan warned last year it could trigger "chaos" at the British capital's Eurostar cross-Channel rail hub, St Pancras station. The UK, which left the European Union in 2020, this year launched its own digital travel permit, which is mandatory for European visitors. Under the roll-out approved by European lawmakers in Strasbourg, with 572 votes in favour and 42 against, the EU scheme will be implemented over a six-month period. The exact date is to be decided by the European Commission after the law is formally adopted and enters into force. Member states would ramp up towards operating the EES system at half of border crossing points after three months and by six months countries should be registering all individuals using the system. See Also
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Most people in France, Germany, Italy and Spain would be in favour of UK rejoining EU on new terms, poll finds
©UK Independent Today at 00:30 Most people in the four largest countries in the European Union would welcome the UK back into the bloc, a new poll has found – but not on the same terms it had before. At the same time, most Britons are in favour of rejoining the EU, the YouGov survey of six western European nations found, but only if they could keep the opt-outs the UK previously had, such as remaining outside the Schengen zone and keeping its own currency.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Seven from Gujarat arrested for using fake Schengen visa
Mumbai: The Sahar police on Friday arrested seven men from Gujarat after they were detained at Dubai airport by immigration officials and then deported to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). Immigration officials at CSMIA found that they had gone to Dubai on tourist visas and attempted to travel to Luxembourg using fake Employment Schengen Visas. Seven from Gujarat arrested for using fake Schengen visa The police said that their trip was planned by a Gujarat-based agent who was helping them enter Luxembourg as tourists and then settle there by securing jobs. According to the police, on Friday night, immigration officer Vishnu Sawant at Mumbai Airport was inspecting the arrival Visas when he noted seven individuals had been deported from Dubai with visas flagged by Dubai's immigration. Investigations revealed that their Schengen Employment Visas for Luxembourg were counterfeit. The police said that when the visas were examined under ultraviolet light, they revealed discrepancies in the fonts, missing security features, and faded colours on the visa paper. Upon interrogation, the seven said that their agent had given them visas and promised them they would be able to settle down and find jobs in any of the 29 Schengen countries without further permissions. After confirming the fraud, immigration officials handed the men over to the Sahar Police Station for further action.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
7 with fake Schengen visa deported from Dubai, arrested at city airport
Mumbai: Seven flyers were detained by immigration officials at Dubai Airport during their transit and deported to Mumbai International Airport on Friday. Sahar police arrested the individuals, hailing from Gujarat, after immigration officials at Mumbai Airport discovered they had travelled to Dubai on tourist visas and attempted to transit using fake Luxembourg Employment Schengen Visas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The men intended to enter Luxembourg as tourists before settling and seeking employment. The detainees— Kaushikkumar Patel (50) from Gandhinagar, Arthkumar Patel (25) from Ahmedabad, Maharshi Patel (21) from Mehsana, Prithvirajgiri Goswami (23) from Mehsana, Bhargav Joshi (33) from Mehsana, Krunalkumar Prajapati (25) from Motera, and Mohammed Jed Husenkhan Pathan (26) from Mehsana—planned to visit at least 29 different locations in Luxembourg as tourists. "Their travel was planned by local agent, Kisan, from Gujarat. They were provided with tourist visas and fake Schengen visas. During interrogation, they revealed the agent provided them with details to travel to European nations and settle. The team is now tracking the agent who created the fake visas," said a police officer from Sahar police station. On Friday night, immigration officer Vishnu Sawant was inspecting arrivals at Mumbai Airport. "During inspection, I discovered that seven individuals were deported from Dubai with visas flagged by Dubai immigration," said Sawant. The individuals were handed over to wing in-charge Suraj Yadav and Meena Kaushik for questioning. Upon examination, immigration officers identified Schengen Employment Visas for Luxembourg in their passports, which were counterfeit with missing security features. "Further interrogation indicated that agents provided them with the visas and assured them that they could settle in any of the 29 Schengen countries without needing permission for stay and could easily find employment," explained the immigration officer. A Sahar Police officer mentioned that after an email to the the airline licensing agency confirmed that the seven individuals had not been issued visas by Luxembourg authorities.
