Netherlands to install border surveillance

The Dutch government is planning to install an automatic video-surveillance system at 15 major border crossing points with Germany and Belgium as of 1 January 2012. This was confirmed by the country’s migration ministry. According to the ministry, the aim of this measure is to detect cross-border crimes such as human trafficking and illegal migration. The ministry of interior is planning on adopting a law which would allow saving the data and images for four weeks. The European Commission has requested more detailed information about these plans from The Hague and announced a check against the EU law on freedom of movement within the Schengen zone. This move, heavily criticised by Dutch diplomats representing this position in EU circles, follows the rejection of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen zone by the Dutch government earlier this year. Commentators say that this measure demonstrates the influence of the right-wing populist party within the Dutch government. Earlier this year, the reintroduction of border controls by the Danish government had triggered the resentment of the European Commission and the German government.