Originally Posted by
supermasterphil
The European Union knows who is coming and going. Nobody would tell you, you've overstayed and make a big stink if you can prove it with their owns stamps in your passport.
For many people who are coming and going, the EU and its member states do not know who is coming and going.
About the utility of entry & exit passport stamps/control, I have had many entries into and exits from EU member states where my passport was not stamped, and it was not even intentional on my part -- and I have had many entries into and exits from the EU (or the Schengen subset) where my passport was not swiped and sometimes not even opened by passport control officials (if any were present).