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José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European commission which initiates and polices EU law, told the centre-right government he had "important doubts" about whether it was complying with European and international law. He warned the Danes against acting unilaterally and threatened to take Copenhagen to the European court of justice. "We will take all necessary steps to ensure the full respect of the relevant law," he said in a letter to the Danish prime minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen. Denmark stunned its EU partners on Wednesday by announcing, without consultation, that it was reintroducing customs controls and border checks on the frontiers with Germany and Sweden as part of a campaign said to be directed at combating transnational crime and thwarting mafias from eastern Europe. Brussels suspects Denmark could be in breach of single market rules and the Schengen agreement, which has abolished passport controls in 26 countries, including 22 of 27 EU states. The decision was a concession to the far-right populist Danish People's party, which is not formally in government but whose votes were needed for the coalition to win support for long-term budget, welfare and retirement policies. The commissioner for EU home affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom, a Swedish liberal, reinforced the message. "The commission's preliminary assessment raises real concerns that, if implemented as announced, the measures foreseen could be in breach of the obligations assumed by Denmark under EU and international law. "The commission stands ready to continue dialogue with Denmark," she said. "But it will, if needed, use the tools at its disposal to guarantee the respect of EU law.''