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Norway extends internal Schengen border controls

Xinhua, May 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Norwegian government said on Tuesday it would extend its internal Schengen border controls for an additional 30 days in order to ensure its "public order and internal security."

Checks on persons at ferry arrivals from Denmark, Sweden and Germany will continue up to June 11 and the border control is extended for reasons of public order and internal security, the Norwegian government said in a statement.

"There are many unregistered migrants in the Schengen area who may wish to move to another country. Norway's controls at internal border have good preventive effect on any arrivals and there is no report that the controllers have caused inconvenience for ordinary travelers," Norway's Minister of Justice and Public Security Anders Anundsen was quoted as saying in the statement.

There is still pressure on the perimeter, and although several measures have been implemented, there are still deficiencies in external border control in Greece, the statement said, adding that the European Commission has recommended that several Schengen countries, including Norway, will have the opportunity to continue their control of the internal borders.

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

According to a Commission statement, the overall functioning of the Schengen area is still at risk and therefore the Commission proposed that the Council adopts the recommendation for member states currently carrying out internal border controls.

Norway introduced temporary border checks on Nov. 26 last year after neighboring Sweden announced it would implement measures to reduce the influx of refugees, including border controls and stricter residence and family reunification measures.

The border checks were originally to last 10 days but were extended several times since then. Enditem