Definition: Open Borders refers to the freedom of movement of people, products, and service between two or more countries, and the rights of citizens of one country to live and work freely in another country. Countries that are part of an open-border group typically have strong "external borders" (separating the group from the rest of the world) and weak to non-existent internal border controls within the group.

Abbreviations: EU = European Union, EFTA= European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland).

Motivation: A number of travelers recently questioned the need for electronic travel authorization between countries that are allied, friends, of similar economic development, and with similar legal systems. A good example would be UK citizens visiting the US or Canada and (soon) US or Canadian citizens visiting the UK. What could be done to facilitate travel in such cases? My view is that, as long as a country implements border controls, electronic travel authorizations provide an effective way to improve safety and reduce processing time at the border. The alternative would be for countries that share similar values to enter into open-border agreements.

Observations:

• It appears, at least in my opinion, that the open-border arrangements among many European countries are working reasonably well. I am talking, of course, of the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the EU, the abolition of border controls under the Schengen Agreement, as well as separate agreements between the EU and the EFTA that allow EU citizens to travel and work freely in EFTA countries, and vice-versa.
• Similar agreements exist between the UK and the Republic of Ireland under what is called the "Common Travel Area," and between Australia and New Zealand. In both cases, the open border arrangements appear to work reasonably well.

Question for debate: Which other group of counties should have open borders?

To launch the debate, I would suggest that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK should enter into an EFTA-type agreement with removal of trade and immigration barriers between the four member countries. These countries have similar culture, economic development, legal systems, and share the same head of state.