13/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - Germany prolongs temporary Schengen controls on border with Austria. On Tuesday 13 October, the European Commission confirmed that the German government had notified the Commission of Germany's prolongation of temporary controls on its internal borders for around another 20 days. German minister Thomas de Maizière told European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos that Germany's controls at the Austrian border would continue until 1 November. These internal controls are permitted by the Schengen border code for a period of ten days. They can be prolonged by a period of 20 days and are renewable for a maximum of two months. The controls are the response to an emergency situation which can be a threat to public security in a member state. Berlin notified the Commission of these controls in mid-September in the face of the flows of migrants to its territory. Austria and Slovenia also introduced these controls in September. (SP)