CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
in
be possible because of the need to control terrorism,
drug smuggling etc. For our own reasons we shall not
accept the Commission's proposal that the presentation of
an unopened CFP means that the person concerned goes
unchecked at intra-Community frontiers. Nothing will change
very fast in this field: the difficulties are formidable
as the Benelux, France and Germany are discovering
their efforts to do away with controls at their joint land
frontiers. It seems probable that the presentation for
only cursory examination of a CFP will be an essential
element in such arrangements which will progressively
reduce the delay and irritation involved in crossing
frontiers within the Community. We do not wish to give our
Partners grounds for complaint that the passports of British
nationals with or without EC rights are not readily
distinguishable.
4. I have therefore carefully considered the proposed
arrangement for British nationals without EC rights from
the point of view of satisfying ourselves that the passports
of EC and non-EC British nationals will be visibly different.
For the reasons set out in paragraph 2 above, I do not think
that we could contemplate the issue of an entirely different
type of passport to British nationals without EC rights:
nor a CFP format with additional external markings.
passport would be widely seen as a second class passport.
Such a
I conclude however that there should be some differentiation
and this should be achieved by omission of European markings
and particularly the words 'European Community' on the
cover. I hope you can agree.
5. I am copying this minute to the Prime Minister and OD(E)
colleagues.
CONFIDENTIAL