25/08/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission said on Tuesday 25 August that the installation of barriers (or fences) for the control of external borders “is not, as such, contrary to European law”, but that these measures must “be proportionate and comply with fundamental rights resulting from the EU agreement on asylum, in particular the principle of non-refoulement”. The Greek government announced on 24 August that the cement and barbed wire fence erected in 2012 along its northern border with Turkey would be extended to prevent migrants from entering the country. “The Conservative government took this decision this year”, said Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas who was cited by Reuters as saying this after thousands of migrants tried to enter Greece in late February with Turkish encouragement. The fence will be extended from 12.5 kilometres to 40 kilometres. (SP)