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EU tells Greece to address deficiencies in external borders

Xinhua, February 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Council on Friday adopted a recommendation proposing to Greece remedial action to address the deficiencies on the application of the Schengen acquis in the area of external border management.

According to a European Council press release, the action recommended covers areas such as registration procedures, sea border surveillance, border check procedures, risk analyses, human resources and training, infrastructure and equipment and international cooperation.

The recommendation acknowledged that the EU currently faces an unprecedented migratory and refugee crisis following a sharp increase in mixed migratory flows during 2015, saying this meant that "several member states have experienced difficulties in ensuring adequate external border controls in accordance with the Schengen acquis, as well as in the reception and processing of migrant arrivals."

Because of its geographical situation, and as result of the shift in migration routes as well as the overall increase in numbers, Greece has been particularly affected by these developments. The very large number of arrivals is such that the external border controls of any member state would be placed under severe pressure.

On Feb. 2, the European Commission adopted the Schengen evaluation report on Greece and submitted to the Council a recommendation to address specific deficiencies in the external border management.

The report was carried out following an unannounced on-site evaluation visit to Greek sea border sites (Chios and Samos Islands) and land border sites (Orestiada, Fylakio, Kastanies, Nea Vyssa) from Nov. 10 to 13 2015.

The Schengen evaluation mechanism, established in 2013, provides for the verification of the application of the Schengen rules through monitoring visits to a given member state by teams with experts from the Commission and member states.

After the visits, a Schengen evaluation report is drawn up, and if the report identifies any weaknesses in the evaluated area of the Schengen acquis, the Commission presents to the Council adoption recommendations for remedial action. Endit