Brussels, 12/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 12 April, the European Commission gave Greece two weeks to rectify the shortcomings highlighted in an initial assessment report on the shortcomings observed at its external borders at the beginning of February.
At the end of this deadline on Tuesday 26 April, the Commission could possibly decide to activate Article 26 of the Schengen Border Code, which would authorise member states to establish controls at their internal borders for a two-year period after 12 May.
In the middle of last February, the Council adopted 50 recommendations to be implemented as quickly as possible (see EUROPE 11489). It called on Greece to make progress on registration procedures (for example, on the numbers of digital fingerprinting taken), border control procedures, risk analysis, human resources and training, infrastructure and international cooperation (particularly with regard to co-operating at local levels with the Turkish authorities).
In its evaluation of the action plan submitted by Greece in response to the Commission's assessment report, the Commission highlights the progress made by Greece, whilst pointing out that implementation of the Greek action plan must be improved "in order to comprehensively rectify the shortcomings observed". This plan outlines how Greece is to increase the number of its personnel involved in registration procedures and increase reception facilities, as well as update computer systems and establish an efficient coastal surveillance system.
The Commission believes that more details and clarification is necessary with regard to several of the measures proposed "in order to be able to evaluate and correctly monitor their implementation". The Commission says that it is concerned by "the absence of detailed timetables for implementing measures, a lack of information about the authorities in charge of implementing the recommendations and the need to concentrate, in the initial phase of the Greek national programme, on the implementation of the measures planned and redefining the priorities in the said programme, in order to use the considerable financial resources appropriately that this state has received by way of the EU's financial instruments"
Greece has to provide the clarification requested by 26 April.
For a return to fundamental Schengen principles
The Commission's approach is part of the roadmap for returning to the fundamental principles of the Schengen area of free movement. Its goal is to end internal controls by the end of 2016 (see EUROPE 11505). So far, six member states (France, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austria and Germany), in addition to Norway, have reintroduced temporary controls at their internal borders. The most recent measure to date involves Austria's construction of a wall at the Austro-Italian border.
The Commission says that correcting the shortcomings in Greece will allow for the controls reintroduced at the internal Schengen borders as an exceptional measure, to be lifted. Nonetheless, it also explains that the migratory pressure and shortcomings impacting on external border controls are expected to go beyond 12 May. The Commission is obliged to present the Council with a proposal under Article 26, paragraph 2, of the Schengen border code, to facilitate the extension of controls at certain specific areas for a limited period. It also says that it is willing to follow this trajectory, if necessary, in order to preserve the functioning of the Schengen area as a whole.
The Commission has at the same time published a report that has revealed a far from positive situation regarding the relocation mechanisms for migrants in the EU from Greece and Italy and the refugee installation facilities in the EU from third countries. Barely 1145 people out of the 106,000 planned have so far been relocated. The Commission estimates that between 35,000 and 40,000 of the migrants in Greece have a right to relocation. Since the launch of the reinstallation programme approved in July 2015, 5677 displaced people needing protection have been transferred in the EU in 15 countries for reinstallation purposes. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)