This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Schengen border controls'.


 
  
 
 
 
Ref. Ares(2019)6921356 - 08/11/2019
 
  
 
 
14 October 2018 
  
  
 
Ministry of Justice 
Commissioner for Migration,  
 
Minister for Justice and Home Affairs 
Home Affairs and Citizenship 
Dimitris Avramopoulos 
 
 
Dear Commissioner, 
Due to the recently held parliamentary elections in Sweden the process of 
forming a new government is currently ongoing. I would like to inform you 
that the Swedish caretaker government is contemplating a decision on the 
temporary reintroduction of border control at the Swedish internal borders. 
The control would be carried out for six months as from 12 November 
2018. Other measures at our disposal have, after detailed consideration, been 
deemed insufficient.  
Such a decision would be taken in accordance with article 25 of the 
Regulation (EU) no 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons 
across borders (Schengen Borders Code).  
The scope of the border control may extend to all internal borders, be it 
land, sea or air borders, whereby the specific border sections and border 
crossing points would be determined by the Swedish Police Authority, 
following a continuous risk analysis. However, the scope would be limited to 
what is strictly necessary to respond to the threat to public policy and 
internal security and constantly adapted to the relevant circumstances. 
The serious threat to public policy and internal security in Sweden remains. 
The Head of the Swedish Security Service has decided that the threat level in 
Sweden remains at the current elevated level (level 3 out of 5) which is the 
same level as on 7 April 2017 when Stockholm experienced a terrorist attack. 
Shortcomings in the protection of the external borders persist and 
contribute to this threat, as they enable potential terrorists and other 
criminals to enter the Schengen territory unnoticed. As I foresee that this 
situation will last beyond the near future, the temporary reintroduction of 
 
Telephone: +46 8 405 10 00 
Postal address: SE 103 33 Stockholm 
Fax: +46 8 20 27 34 
Visitors' address: Rosenbad 4 
Web: www.regeringen.se 
Email: xx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xx 
 


 
border control at the Swedish internal borders would be carried out for a 
period of six months. 
The reintroduction of border control at the internal border is truly a last 
resort. The existing Swedish legislation does not allow for police checks on 
persons in the border areas in line with the Commission’s Recommendation 
from 12 May 2017 and instruments like these can never have the same effect 
as border control at the internal border.  
Let me assure you that I remain committed to the goal of returning to an 
area without internal border controls and a well-functioning Schengen 
cooperation. 
  
Yours sincerely, 
 
Morgan Johansson 
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