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EU asked to prepare for extension of national border control

Xinhua, January 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Several European Union member countries have asked the European Commission to "prepare the legal and practical basis" for the extension of temporary border controls within the Schengen free-travel zone, Dutch Minister for Migration Klaas Dijkhoff said on Monday.

"The high influx of immigrants had led some member states to introduce border controls. Currently, temporary borders measures can be taken only for a limited period of six months. But the unprecedented influx of asylum seekers have not decreased yet," Dijkhoff told the press following the first day the informal meeting of EU Justice and Home Affair Ministers in the Dutch capital.

"So member states invited the Commission to prepare the legal and practical basis for the continuance of temporary border measures through Article 26 of the Schengen border code," he said.

Under Articles 23-25 of the Schengen Borders Code, a EU member state may implement temporary border controls, but not for more than a total period of six months. An extension is possible under Article 26. For this to happen, the European Commission has to make a proposal to be adopted by the European Council.

If such an action is taken, it means that EU leaders recognize that "persistent serious deficiencies" in controls at Schengen's external borders put the very existence of the passport-free zone in jeopardy.

In 2015, over 1 million immigrants have entered Europe, imposing great pressure on Schengen, seen as a cornerstone of EU freedom.

Among members of the free travel zone (22 EU members and four non-EU countries), Germany, Sweden, Austria, France, Denmark and non-EU member Norway have reintroduced temporary border checks. Endit