EU calls for efforts to ensure normal Schengen system of open borders

The European Commission here on Thursday said the European Union (EU) should make efforts to go back to the normal Schengen system of open borders as soon as feasible.

The Commission made the appeal in a statement following the temporary reintroduction of controls by Slovenia at the border with Hungary.

It said such provisional border controls between member states was, under the Schengen Borders Code, to be used in case of a serious threat to public policy or internal security. The current situation in Slovenia, appears to be a situation covered by these rules.

"The EU institutions have the task to ensure the proportionality of the exceptional measures concerned. The Commission will closely monitor the situation and keep the European Parliament and the Council fully informed," it said.

"The situation serves to further underscore the pressing need to agree on and quickly implement the measures proposed by the European Commission in order to manage the refugee crisis," it said.

The statement noted that the European Commission Wednesday night received a notification from the Slovenian authorities informing they would temporarily reintroduce controls at the border with Hungary, as of Thursday for an initial period of 10 days. Endit