European Commission wants internal border controls for six more months

Commission proposes prolongation of controls in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Norway for a maximum period of six months

The European Commission has today proposed to prolong proportionate controls at certain internal Schengen borders, namely in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Norway for a maximum period of six months.

National measures have already been introduced by these countries to address the threat to public policy and internal security resulting from the secondary movements of irregular migrants.

The draft recommendation proposes to extend these measures, in line with the Schengen Borders Code, as, and despite significant progress made by Greece, not all of the serious deficiencies identified could be adequately and comprehensively addressed within the three months' limit.

The commission proposed that the European Council allows five countries maintain internal border controls for a further period of six months.
These include Austria’s borders with Hungary and Slovenia, Germany’s land border with Austria, Danish ports with ferry connections to Germany and at the Danish-German land border, Swedish harbours in the Police Region South and West and at the Öresund bridge and Norwegian ports with ferry connections to Denmark, Germany and Sweden.

EC Vice-President Frans Timmermans said the Greek authorities have delivered huge efforts and there is real progress on the ground. Moreover, he added, the EU-Turkey agreement has dramatically reduced the arrivals in Greece.

“However, there is still is considerable migratory pressure at our external border, and large numbers of migrants present in Greece. Therefore, as long as serious deficiencies in border management persist some internal border control measures should be maintained. We have a clear roadmap to return to a normal functioning of the Schengen zone by November and we need to get there in an orderly way. We preserve Schengen by applying Schengen," he said.

Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos said Schengen is one of the greatest achievements of the European Union, and “our unchanged ultimate ambition is to restore normality in the Schengen area.”

"In the meantime," Avramopoulos  said, “as we still face deficiencies at out external borders, this requires us to take temporary steps to allow for the extension of internal border controls exceptionally. Greece in particular, as well as countries along the Western Balkan Route, are still hosting a large number of asylum seekers and irregular migrants, who may present a risk of secondary movements. Greece has made considerable progress and is on the right path and the European Commission is continuously providing comprehensive support to the Greek authorities.”