DSR 11C
(b) if the old style stiff, blue cover passport was
still issued to these groups, the vociferous minority
in this country who resent the introduction of the
CFP would ask why they, too, could not continue to
have the old style passport;
(c) there would presumably be a cost penalty in
issuing a style of passport completely different from
the CFP.
3. There is as you know a strong move in the European
Community for the reduction, and if possible, the
eventual abolition of controls at intra-Community
frontiers: a movement the CBI support because of the
implications for completing the common market. As the
Prime Minister pointed out at the Brussels European
Council, total abolition will not be possible because of
the need to control terrorism, drug smuggling etc. 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 in their efforts to do away with
It will be 1997 controls at their joint land frontiers.
before the last of the old style passports go out of use.
It nevertheless seems probable that the presentation of
the CFP will be a major element in arrangements which
will progressively reduce the delay and irritation
involved in crossing frontiers within the Community.
14. we