Czech government plans Schengen information campaign

The government of Mirek Topolanek will spend 25 million crowns (1.2 million USD) on an information campaign ahead of the Czech Republic's entry into Europe's border-free Schengen area by the end of this year. Interior Minister Ivan Langer told journalists the campaign will also inform foreigners about the fact that all barriers to free movement will be abolished as of January 1, 2008. A recent opinion poll suggests 51 percent of Czechs have some knowledge of the Schengen area. Most of them consider it a positive result of the Czech Republic's EU entry in 2004. People are most afraid of higher security risks and illegal immigration as possible results of the opening of the border.