Freedom of movement: elimination of controls on persons crossing internal frontiers

The CoR welcomed the Commission’s proposal for a directive relating to the right of third-country nationals to travel in the Community and to the abolition of controls at internal borders, measures that would make a major contribution to the free movement of persons as guaranteed by the single market. This freedom of movement, which allowed third-country nationals to make visits of short duration to all EU Member States, was intended to promote travel and tourism within the Community. As regards the provision of services by European undertakings employing third-country nationals who were required to travel to the territory of another Member State in order to perform the services there, the CoR, while respecting the conditions imposed by the Member State concerned, declared that it supported the idea of a special entry permit being issued to the employees (third-country nationals) of the said undertakings. In addition, the CoR drew attention to the fact that the regions of the European Union were trying to help third-country nationals escape their isolation by introducing an improved integration policy. This integration could also be encouraged by way of actions in the field of cultural and education policy. The CoR expressed the hope that at the Intergovernmental Conference of 1996 the key areas of justice and home affairs would no longer be entrusted to intergovernmental cooperation but would instead be incorporated into the EC Treaty.