04/04/2018 (Agence Europe) – France has said that it intends to extend its border controls for an additional six months, according to an announcement by the European Commission on Wednesday 4 April. Although these current controls are within the Schengen area of free movement (see EUROPE 11921), they are justified by the persisting terrorist threat and have been extended until 30 April. The Commission also indicated that it had not received any notification about a possible extension by the Austrian government, which is currently operating controls on certain portions of its borders with Slovenia and Hungary. These controls are theoretically expected to come to an end on 12 May but the Austrian government would like to extend these measures, according to certain media reports. Together with France, four other member states (Austria, Germany, Sweden and Denmark), in addition to Norway, are carrying out controls on the basis of risks relating to secondary movements of migrants within the EU. In theory, all these controls are due to come to an end on 12 May. (SP)