In March 2016 the European Commission called on member states to halt temporary internal border controls within the Schengen area of free movement. Despite this appeal, on Wednesday 25 January the Commission once again found itself obliged to authorise extension of these controls for an additional three-month period (see EUROPE 11505).
Five countries are involved: Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. They are now allowed to continue application of their internal order control measures.
To the great consternation of countries such as Slovenia, this is the second recommendation for an extension the Commission has addressed to the Council. These countries have complained to the Commission highlighting the economic repercussions of these measures. Speaking on behalf of the Commission during a press conference, however, the Commissioner responsible for this dossier, Dimitris Avramopoulos, explained that “these controls are justified”.
The Commissioner said that this situation was justified because of the situation in Greece, which is still providing reception facilities for 60,000 people and which could lead to secondary flows. The fragile situation on the Western Balkans route is another reason validating the position taken on retaining controls and the fact that the new European Coast and Border Guard is still not yet operational.
Nevertheless, just as it had already pointed out on 11 November, the Commission again reminded the member states that they can also opt for alternative measures. The Commissioner said that should these controls prove necessary, it should only be as a last resort.
It should be pointed out but these controls also affect Austria and its land border with Hungary, as well as the land border with Slovenia; Germany’s terrestrial border with Austria; Denmark and Danish ports from which connections are made for crossing into Germany and the land border with Germany; Sweden and the Swedish ports located in South and West police regions, as well as the Öresund Bridge, and Norway’s ports from which crossings into Denmark, Germany and Sweden made. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)