Klaus Kinkel Biography

During the Schengen process, Kinkel backs Greece's Madrid accession to the Schengen arrangements. Bonn also backs intensive police cooperation between participating states.

Helps secure Germany's support for the Edinburgh arrangements designed to unblock Maastricht ratification.

Supports the Copenhagen criteria linking future enlargement to democracy, market economics and acceptance of Community obligations.

Supports preparations for the Union's 1995 enlargement and future institutional reform.

Supports the Essen strategy designed to prepare associated Central and Eastern European countries for eventual membership.

Kinkel welcomes Austria's Brussels accession to the Schengen Convention. Bonn also backs intensive police cooperation between participating states.

Participates as the intergovernmental conference opens negotiations that later produce the Treaty of Amsterdam.

Kinkel helps back the Nordic accessions that extend Schengen cooperation across northern Europe. German officials emphasise reliable information-sharing between national authorities.

Kinkel signs Germany's instrument at Amsterdam, accepting reforms to Union institutions, employment policy and justice cooperation.

Kinkel supports giving existing Schengen rules formal standing inside the EU treaty structure. German policy links open internal borders with stronger external controls.