Closure of Czech border crossings prepared ahead of Schengen entry

The administrator of Czech state property (UZSVM) has announced that ownership of 64 Czech border crossings will be transferred to the Interior Ministry and customs authorities at the start of next year when the country joins the Schengen area. The Czech Republic will be joining the Schengen zone on 1 January 2008, a move which will result in the lifting of the country's border controls with other EU member states. If the Interior Ministry and the customs administration can find no use for the properties, they will then be offered to regional and municipal authorities. Any properties not taken over by state bodies will then be offered to private companies and individuals.