European Travelers Find Less Red Tape

Travelers took advantage Sunday of the European Union’s latest step toward unity, cruising straight through back road border checkpoints or walking directly from international flights to waiting taxis.

Travelers between seven European countries kept their passports in their pockets as France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands eliminated border and passport checks.

“Marvelous, absolutely!” shouted a German passenger as he swept through the Brussels airport, once notorious for long delays.