Border Agency for Security in Europe

The best borders are bridges rather than barriers. Borders define peoples, their lifestyles, destinies, rights and duties. Even today vestiges of the Roman Limes define the Roman Empire, that culture, at its greatest extent. By nature, borders range from the coolest thousand miles between Norway and Sweden to that piece of tropical string between Ethiopia and Somalia. Europeans may bestride borders by crossing the line of tiles through Baarle (in both Belgium and the Netherlands), the metal strip through the Eurode Business Center, Herzogenrath (in both Germany and the Netherlands), or zipline from Spain to Portugal "in less than a minute." Bridges welcome tourists and trade, promote cross-cultural co-operation and the easy movement of people. Barriers prevent illegal entry, terrorism, disease, sedition and other criminal activity. Clearly a strong agency is required to manage these contrasts in the task descriptions. Sadly, terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels remind us of the need for improvement in the border management of Europe. This chapter considers the major problem areas which arise at national borders in Europe and illustrates recent examples of the key pre-terrorist troubles that have arisen and the solutions so far embraced. Review of present border management provides a number of options employed for current border management and leads to consideration of other options which might be introduced. A detailed analysis of border management practices, their implementation and success, identifies the realities of border management particularly when facing security issues. This leads to consideration of how to enhance current border security through new strategy and 21st century capacity building. So begins identification of the new needs for the European Union in the context of European Union thinking and activity directly related to border management. There is particular urgency for the European Union to put in place an effective border agency. An agency which recognizes the need for "mending-time" so that we continue to "beat the boundaries" but tuned in to modern time.