Taking back control of our borders

[BercowsFlyingFlamingo]

What does this mean? How will post brexit borders work compared to now?

Last week I walked across the border from Germany into Poland and no one stopped me, or checked my documents. I came back to the UK and had to go through border control. So what please is this nonsense about 'taking control of our borders'? We already do.

Peregrina That would be Schengen, that the UK and Ireland have not signed up to. The Uk because they didn't want to. Ireland because the UK didn't and for us to do so would initially have threatened the CTA and subsequently, when it was suggested at a later date, threatened the GFA (integrity, don't you know).

Taking Control of our Borders is a nice soundbite that scares people into thinking they don't have control and so something needs to be done. A bit like Make America Great Again or Let's Get Brexit Done.

The Uk because they didn't want to

Ireland and UK opt out of Schengen was long before the word Brexit or GFA was ever invented.

Logic was that UK is mostly coastline so frontier control at seaports and airports was sufficient

Ireland and UK opt out of Schengen was long before the word Brexit or GFA was ever invented.

As I said, Ireland's initial decision was to do with the CTA. Joining Schengen came up again for discussion in Ireland with the Amsterdam treaty. This was post GFA. It was again discussed when the UK brought in e-borders about 10 years ago. Also post GFA.

Amsterdam treaty was signed 2 October 1997. GFA was 10 April 1998. Not that far apart, but not post GFA.

E-borders make it easier for nationals and residents to pass through seaports and airports, but I don’t see the connection to GFA?

Even now not every EU member is in Schengen. In addition to Ireland and UK mostly Eastern Europe countries I remember?

Amsterdam treaty entered into force on 1 May 1999 so that was around the time it was being discussed again. Post GFA. Obviously it was also discussed when the treaty was being negotiated but then the CTA was the issue.

E-borders impacted on CTA as travellers from Ireland to Britain are now required to carry photographic identification. This was not the case previously. It doesn't impact on the GFA (and I did not say it did) as it only applies between Ireland and Britain but again, a discussion on joining schengen happened. It was dismissed as joining would contravene the GFA unless the UK also joined Schengen.

whyamidoingthis - yes, I know full well it was Schengen. I was just toying a little with the Leavers and their 'Control our Borders' mantra.

MysteryTripAgain , the first buds of GFA negotiations would have been happening well before the Amsterdam Treaty. The Irish gov't would have been well aware of potential issues.
You had Peter Brooke declaring that the British government had “no selfish strategic or economic interest in Northern Ireland' in 1990. And the Downing Street Declaration in 1993.

It was after all 'Sunningdale for slow learners'.