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Czech gov't supports EC's proposals on border protection

Xinhua, January 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

After Monday's cabinet meeting, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said that the government supports the European Commission's package of proposals to tighten border controls, which includes the establishment of a European border and coast guard.

Sobotka said that Czech has been pointing out the need of a better protection of the external Schengen border since the beginning of the migrant crisis. He said Europe needs an instrument to help a state that is unable to protect its border. If a member country is incapable of enforcing the rules, it is necessary to have a way to assist it.

Czech State Secretary for European Affairs Tomas Prouza said that Czech advocates a long-term external Schengen border control, in particular the establishment of the European border and coast guard.

Prouza said the Czech Republic considers these rules to be correct. He said that the priority is to preserve the operation of Schengen. If the country concerned did not want to cooperate, it could be expelled from Schengen.

EC clearly defines the procedures of deployment border guards. The country concerned will be informed of the problem and called for to deal with it. Unless it reacted to the call, joint forces could be deployed directly.

EC's "border package" was presented in December 2015. It also includes the change of the Schengen Borders Code, which would mean the reintroduction of border controls on the external borders of the area for EU citizens.

A readmission authority would be part of the newly established system of external borders protection that would supervise the return of failed asylum seekers to their country of origin.

The EC's proposal is yet to be approved by the European Parliament and the European Council, consisting of presidents and prime ministers of the member countries. Endit