Poles, Czechs join Europe's free movement zone

(ZITTAU) - The leaders of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic on Friday joined celebrations to mark the expansion of Europe's free movement zone into nine mainly eastern countries.

Blue balloons were released into the grey winter sky as a barrier at the border post was lifted, symbolising the opening of internal frontiers as Poland and the Czech Republic became part of the Schengen Treaty zone which now counts 24 countries.

Border controls between Germany and its two neighbours were abolished at midnight, erasing the last vestiges of the Iron Curtain that divided the continent for decades.

Czechs will now be able to move freely along 646 kilometres (400 miles) of border shared with Germany and Poles along 456 kilometres (283 miles) of their border with their western neighbour.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolaneka arrived at Zittau, in the former communist East Germany in the early morning to attend the celebrations.

On Thursday, Germany's GdP police union had warned that the extension of the Schengen zone eastwards could unleash a crime wave.

The lifting of border controls with Poland and the Czech Republic in particular was "an invitation to criminals," union chief Josef Scheuring said.

German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble accused the police union of displaying the wrong attitude.

"In an open Europe, thinking only about one's own powers along the borders cannot spell success for the police."

He added: "The abolition of the border controls is of symbolic importance because we are turning the page on the division of Europe."