"What are the border checks on EU nationals travelling?
EU citizens are allowed to enter the territory of EU Member States on presentation of a valid passport or ID card unless they represent a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to public policy or public security. Internal border checks, both on EU citizens and on third-country nationals, are abolished between the countries implementing the Schengen acquis. “Internal borders” means land borders between the Member States, airports for flights between the Schengen States and seaports for regular ferry services between the Schengen States.

However, everyone, including EC citizens, may still be subject to certain checks when crossing borders between Member States as the Schengen provisions allow the possibility to reintroduce border checks temporarily at internal borders, should this be necessary on grounds of public order or national security. In any case, as a matter of principle, EU citizens should be asked no questions about the purpose of their journey, means of subsistence, etc. Most land terminals, airports and seaports have special reserved channels for EU citizens and members of their family. The Schengen provisions do not affect Member States’ right to require travellers to hold, carry and produce permits and travel documents, nor to exercise police powers throughout their territory."

http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/faq...etravel_en.htm

room for interpretation i admit, but the rule is strongly biased towards not asking. (someone posted an official link on ft a while ago that specifically said not allowed if i remember well. cannot find it right now though.) there is probably an implicit distinction between a routine check, 99.9% of the cases, no questions to be asked, and a special check, where you are really becoming part of a police/customs investigation, where different rules will apply, ie specific suspicion must be articulated etc. this is very different from an american border check where everyone, even citizens, is suspicious a priori and can and will be questioned.

al

I had my first encounter with customs in AMS last month.

I go to Europe every July to umpire a baseball tournament. That means I'm carrying 2 50-pound large bags along with a briefcase. As I'm walking out of AMS, a customs agent walked up to me and asked me about my bags. I simply said, "I'm going to umpire baseball -- clothes in one bag, gear in the other," and he said "have a nice stay."

First time I've ever had anyone say anything to me in the last 6 years.