Europe's border-free zone expands

BBC wrote:

Forty-eight hours of celebrations are taking place to mark nine new states joining a European border-free zone.

The Schengen agreement, which allows passport-free travel across the area, now embraces 24 nations.

Some 2,000 people celebrated in the town of Frankfurt on Oder at Germany's border with Poland, amid fireworks and the EU anthem, Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the zone.

Speaking in Zittau, close to where Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic meet, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was a "truly historic moment".

Mrs Merkel was joined by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, his Czech counterpart Mirek Topolanek and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

daffyThreads: 40 Posts: 2,118 Joined: Feb 5, 07	Dec 22, 07, 05:48 / #
BBC wrote: Forty-eight hours of celebrations are taking place to mark nine new states joining a European border-free zone. The Schengen agreement, which allows passport-free travel across the area, now embraces 24 nations. Some 2,000 people celebrated in the town of Frankfurt on Oder at Germany's border with Poland, amid fireworks and the EU anthem, Beethoven's Ode to Joy. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the zone. Speaking in Zittau, close to where Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic meet, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was a "truly historic moment". Mrs Merkel was joined by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, his Czech counterpart Mirek Topolanek and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7153490.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7157039.stm

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Dec 22, 07, 06:35 / #
I think and hope Poland will benefit from it :)

hairballThreads: 37 Posts: 787 Joined: Dec 16, 07	Dec 22, 07, 10:13 / #
daffy wrote: Mrs Merkel was joined by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, his Czech counterpart Mirek Topolanek and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. It's just as well that the Duck (Kaczynski) was de-alected. He probably would have been offended by some cartoon in some German news paper or something!

SzczeryThreads: - Posts: 27 Joined: Nov 21, 07	Dec 22, 07, 13:20 / #
Let the flood of islam begin.

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Dec 22, 07, 13:22 / #
Szczery wrote: Let the flood of islam begin Islam is a good religion, dude. Did you meant "fundamentalists" or "islamists" ?... :)

SzczeryThreads: - Posts: 27 Joined: Nov 21, 07	Dec 22, 07, 13:35 / #
Polson wrote: Islam is a good religion, dude. Did you meant "fundamentalists" or "islamists" ?... The goal of Islam is to dominate the world. Most are extreme and have no place in europe. Sweden has taken in many. They have done nothing but torch cities and beg for more handouts. There is a reason we have defended europe's borders in the past from these people. There is also a damn good reason our ancestors kept this filth out of our countries. The middle east is a large area of the world. Let them live there and practice there sick mistreatment of women and other rubbish with themselves.

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Dec 22, 07, 13:45 / #
Szczery wrote: The goal of Islam is to dominate the world Oh really ? Can you give me a link where i can check that info ?... Have I to refresh your memory ? What religion used to convert everyone ? Christianity. Is Christianity a "bad" religion ? I don't think so. Szczery wrote: Most are extreme Then we're not talking about Islam but Islamists, so fundamentalists.

hairballThreads: 37 Posts: 787 Joined: Dec 16, 07	Dec 27, 07, 11:54 / #
Polson wrote: or "islamists" ?... Or is this "islamaphobia"?

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Dec 27, 07, 12:41 / #
I wouldnt worry about what szezcrzezzerzczery says,he's already proven himself to be an odious little faschist on other threads with such classics as " the nazis did good things.." and " the nazis had family values and racial pride..", all said as compliments. BTW szezcrzezzerzczery it was hundreds of years ago when the poles "coughsavedcough" europe from the ottomans,no one really cares anymore,and besides,if they were so despised at that time in poland how come all your countries national dress and mil uniform traditions come from them?

london07Threads: - Posts: 8 Joined: Oct 23, 07	Jan 5, 08, 07:57 / #
Anyone knows anything about the above?

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Jan 29, 08, 11:35 / #
london07 wrote: schengen visa issued by a different country Where are you from ?

MareGaeaThreads: 45 Posts: 5,527 Joined: Feb 6, 08	Feb 7, 08, 06:02 / #
I was just wondering: as Poland is to join Schengen in effecto as of 29th of March this year, does this also mean that Polish ppl just have to fill in the Visa Waiver Program when visiting the US? M-G

polishcanuckThreads: 10 Posts: 583 Joined: Feb 11, 07	Feb 12, 08, 12:36 / #
On the weekend i watched a news story on itvn about the schengen zone. In one border city german border police check passports 500m down the road from the old border crossing in response to an increase in reported auto thefts! LOL Sorry i don't remember the name of the city, but it looked like the polish and german border towns were right next to each other. Many residents work on one side and live on the other.

MareGaeaThreads: 45 Posts: 5,527 Joined: Feb 6, 08	Edited by: MareGaea Feb 14, 08, 03:33 / #
I read that during this year Poland will be entitled to participate in the Visa Waiver Program while visiting the US as first of two countries that are currently on the waiting list. I forgot what the other was - I believe it was Cyprus, but I'm not sure. Only difference is (although, that could go for all the participants - I'm not a 100 per cent sure) that the Visa will be valid for 60 days instead of the usual 90. M-G

london07Threads: - Posts: 8 Joined: Oct 23, 07	Jan 29, 08, 11:04 / #
I've done it now. It works. Actually even the officer at the control desk was not sure about this schengen visa...

london07Threads: - Posts: 8 Joined: Oct 23, 07	Feb 7, 08, 04:42 / #
My Schengen visa was issued by the Embassy of Spain before Poland joined the Schengen zone. I live in London and I am originally from Mauritius.

london07Threads: - Posts: 8 Joined: Oct 23, 07	Feb 11, 08, 06:02 / #
I asked the Polish Consulate in London about that too, and I was told that Polish ppl still need to apply for a visa to the US.