EU set to limit open-travel zone by border checks: Documents

EU states are reportedly set to restrict passport-free travel in the Schengen zone by resorting to an unprecedented emergency measure to deal with a huge influx of refugees.

EU policy makers plan to declare that Greece is helping the inflow of refugees into other European states by failing to sufficiently control its frontier, the Associated Press said Friday, citing confidential data.

Such an announcement would enable Schengen Area states to make use of an emergency provision under Article 26 of the open-travel agreement, which allows them to tighten border controls for up to two years.

The Schengen area allows passport-free movement through 26 countries, most of them in the EU, and is regarded as one of the major European achievements in its efforts to strengthen unity.

According to a summary written by an official in the EU’s Dutch presidency for a meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers last month, the participants reached an agreement to declare that Greece has failed to control its borders.

“With no decrease in migratory pressure and time running out, our ministers agreed ... that the only way to continue beyond the maximum time limit during which these border controls may be carried out is to adopt a (European) Council recommendation under Article 26 of the Schengen Border Code,” the source added.

Last November, European inspectors visited Greek frontier sites and urged Athens to upgrade border checks on its islands until early May.

On Friday, EU nations published a statement, giving Greece three months to address “serious deficiencies” in controlling the flow of refugees. They further acknowledged that the overall functioning of Schengen “is at serious risk.”

The EU wants Athens to build detention facilities for asylum seekers facing deportation, increase its capacity to document refugees and improve screening as well as disembarkation procedures for those arriving by boat.

Six Schengen members have imposed border checks, but many of them would have to ease the restrictions starting in mid-May under Schengen rules.

Most of refugees are fleeing conflict-ridden zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.

Many blame major European powers for the unprecedented exodus, saying their policies have led to a surge in terrorism and war in the violence-hit regions, forcing more people out of their homes.

According to latest figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 76,000 refugees have reached Europe’s shores in the first six weeks of 2016, while 409 people either died or gone missing in their perilous journey to the continent.

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