Local Border Traffic – European Union and Member States’ Perspective (based on Polish Experience)
Abstract In December 2006 the European Parliament and the Council adopted a regulation concerning the rules on local border traffic (LBT). It may seem that this interesting mechanism remains outside the main stream of consideration devoted to the EU migration policy sensu largo. LBT appears to be, however, an important factor determining the whole system of Union’s external borders and a significant element of border relations between the Member States and third countries as well. At the same time LBT should be perceived multi-dimensionally and may be treated as one of these EU law institutions which concentrates in itself the tangential points of spheres seemingly distinct. In this article LBT will be analysed from two different perspectives: from the perspective of the Union and its area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ) as well as its external action. It will be also analysed from the perspective of the Member States and their bilateral relations with neighbouring countries. The latter issue will be illustrated by Polish experience in this respect, which may tell something more about LBT eastern dimension.